K-Map Multicenter Trial: Reevaluating Global Keratoconus Prevalence - The Ufa, Russia Pediatric Keratoconus Prevalence Study
Published 2024 - 42nd Congress of the ESCRS
Reference: PO797 | Type: Poster | DOI: 10.82333/jr4t-8539
Authors: Emilio Torres-Netto 1 , M. Enes Aydemir 2 , Mark Hillen* 2 , Léonard Kollros 3 , Nikki Hafezi 4 , Farhad Hafezi 5
1ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland;Paulista School of Medicine,Federal University of Sao Paulo (UNIFESP),São Paulo,Brazil, 2ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland, 3ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland;University of Applied Sciences and Arts Northwestern Switzerland FHNW,Olten,Switzerland, 4ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland;Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences,University of Antwert,Edegem,Belgium, 5ELZA Institute,Zurich,Switzerland;Faculty of Medicine,University of Geneva,Geneva,Switzerland;USC Roski Eye Institute,University of Southern California,Los Angeles,United States;Department of Ophthalmology,Wenzhou Medical University,Wenzhou,China;Department of Ophthalmology,NYU Grossman School of Medicine,New York,United States;Center for Applied Biotechnology and Molecular Medicine,University of Zurich,Zurich,Switzerland
Purpose
The purpose of the “K-Map” study is to assess the prevalence of keratoconus in children, adolescents, and young adults across several regions of the world using modern tomographic and biomechanical assessments of the cornea, and to verify whether the historic prevalence rates reported om the literature need to be updated with more accurate statistics taken with modern, more sensitive and accurate diagnostic instruments.
Setting
Investigational site in the city of Ufa in the Republic of Bashkortostan (Russia).
Methods
A total of 3000 subjects, aged 7-18 years, were identified in the city of Ufa for inclusion the K-Map study. To minimize any bias or confounding variables that may have been related to different socioeconomic background, only children from public, freely accessible schools were included. After obtaining informed consent and following the completion of a detailed questionnaire that contained the inclusion and exclusion criteria, participants underwent bilateral, non-invasive corneal tomography using a Scheimpflug imaging device (Pentacam, Oculus Optikgeräte, Wetzlar, Germany) and biomechanical assessments using high-speed dynmaic Scheimpflug imaging (CorVis ST, Oculus), to establish keratoconus diagnoses.
Results
Early results obtained using current diagnostic technologies reveal that the detected prevalence of keratoconus in Ufa significantly surpasses the historical estimate from the 1980s of 0.054%. Detailed analyses of corneal parameters, including thickness, Kmax, and astigmatism, along with a history of familial keratoconus that highlight significant associations with the condition's diagnosis will be presented.
Conclusions
Our 2018 K-Map study conducted in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, identified a keratoconus prevalence of 4.8%, indicating that, with the use of current diagnostic technologies, the detected prevalence of keratoconus significantly exceeds the historical estimate of 0.054%. This earlier estimate originated from a Minnesota study that utilized keratoscopy for screening corneal ectasia from the 1930s to the 1980s. It has become evident that keratoconus prevalence varies geographically and is considerably higher than previously reported. Our findings underscore the critical need for increased awareness and enhanced screening for keratoconus, especially among children and young adults, to facilitate early intervention and improve prognostic outcomes.