The profile of patients with primary open-angle glaucoma in the Russian Federation (preliminary results of a multicenter population-based study). Part 2

PURPOSE. To determine individual clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the disease in patients with primary openangle glaucoma (POAG) and to establish its relationship with adherence to treatment.METHODS. The analytical, multicenter, combined study involved 1 092 subjects (2 184 eyes) with different forms of glaucoma (general group) were selected using a survey, followed by their clinical and epidemiological analysis.RESULTS. When verifying the diagnosis, eyes with POAG prevailed in the main group (from 89.6 to 92% of all eyes). The average age in the main group at the final examination was 66 (63; 69) years, the duration of the disease was on average 3 years. The number of eyes with the initial stage of glaucoma decreased in 3 years by 17.5-19.1%, and the number of eyes with advanced and severe stages of the disease increased by 10.4-12.9% and 5.1-5.2%, respectively. The hypotensive regimen was changed at the average tonometric intraocular pressure of 24 (23; 26) mm Hg (regardless of the disease stage). When estimating the comorbidity of the main group, the most common concomitant somatic pathology was hypertension. Today, prostaglandin analogues are prescribed in 34.6-36.3% of all cases for all stages of glaucoma. The leading complaint of patients according to the survey was the cost of treatment. In addition, the influence of the organization's pharmacist on the choice of the purchased drug was revealed. However, attending physician remains the main source of information about the disease for patients (92.2%).CONCLUSION. It was found that POAG predictably prevails in Russia, and its diagnosis still comes with a delay. The causes of treatment failures should be recognized as late diagnosis, incorrect treatment of patients with newly diagnosed condition, and the same treatment regimens for paired eyes with different stages of POAG, as well as social and behavioral factors of patient compliance.