The role of eye diseases in disabilities of children population

Aim. To estimate the disabilities new cases incidence dynamics in children population of the Azerbaijan Republic and define the role of eye diseases in the formation of the children disability risk.

Methods. The State Statistics Committee of Azerbaijan materials over a period of 2009-2013 were used, which included information on primary cases of children disabilities. To study the children population disabilities nosologic causes as a result of eye diseases children medical examination results in 2013 (total 497 children considered disabled) were used. Statistical analysis was performed using the qualitative characteristics analysis method.

Results. In children up to 18 years old over a period of 2009 and 2013 a statistically significant increase in disabilities new cases rate was observed as a result of all the selected diseases groups, except for ear diseases (0.80±0.05 and 0.78±0.05 per 10 thousand respectively; p >0.05). The eye diseases proportion among the causes of disabilities primary cases did not significantly change in 2009, 2010 and 2011 (7.3±0.33; 7.1±0.34 and 7.9±0.29% respectively; p >0.05). In 2012, its value significantly (p <0.05) reduced (6,2±0,26%), and this tendency continued in 2013. The dynamic increase of children disabilities new cases rate as a result of endocrine and nervous system diseases, psychiatric disorders, congenital malformations and diseases of the respiratory, circulatory systems and eyes was observed in Azerbaijan.

Conclusion. The eye diseases proportion among the causes of children disabilities primary cases increases with age, and decreases over time in 2009-2013; nosological structure features of children disability causes due to eye diseases in Azerbaijan are the low proportion of eye injuries, prematurity retinopathy and congenital cataract and high proportion of refraction disturbances and optic nerve pathology.