The association of cooking fuels with cataract among adults aged 50 years and older in low- and middle-income countries: Results from the WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE)

• Reducing household air pollution and protecting eye health are essential to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). There is contradictory evidence about the association between cooking fuels and cataract among adults aged 50 years and older. WHO Study on global AGEing and adult health (SAGE) was conducted in six low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). We used propensity-score method (inverse probability of weighting) and logistic regression to examine the association between cooking fuels and self-reported cataract. Odds ratio (OR) estimates and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated. Overall, use of unclean fuels was associated with an adjusted OR of cataract of 1.42 (95%CIs, 1.29–1.56). In subgroup analysis, unclean cooking fuels increased 1.71 (95%CI, 1.46–2.01) and 1.53 (95%CI, 1.30–1.79) times the risk of cataract in India and China, respectively, whereas no association was found in other countries. In gender-stratified analyses, unclean fuel use was associated with a 1.27 (95%CI, 1.13–1.44) times risk for males and 1.67 (95%CI, 1.44–1.94) times risk for females. Higher cataract risk attributed to unclean fuels was observed among those aged over 60 (1.45; 95%CI, 1.28–1.64) than people aged under 60 (1.39; 95%CI, 1.20–1.62). OR was higher in rural area (1.74; 95%CI, 1.51–2.00) than urban area (1.24; 95%CI, 1.09–1.41). Our results indicate that unclean fuels may be associated with self-reported cataract, but it varied among different LMICs. Higher risk was found in females, people older than 60 years old and those who live in rural areas. The result of this study provides useful information to support transition to clean household energy and eye health promotion in LMICs. Greater efforts should be taken to protect vulnerable populations. © 2021 Elsevier B.V.

Subject headings

MEDICIN OCH HÄLSOVETENSKAP  -- Hälsovetenskap -- Arbetsmedicin och miljömedicin (hsv//swe)

MEDICAL AND HEALTH SCIENCES  -- Health Sciences -- Occupational Health and Environmental Health (hsv//eng)

Keyword

Cataract

Cooking fuel

Elderly

Low- and middle-income countries

Health

Inverse problems

Rural areas

Confidence interval

Cooking fuels

Eye health

Logistics regressions

Low income countries

Middle-income countries

Odd ratios

Propensity score

Fuels

fuel

unclassified drug

adult

developing world

eye disease

fuel consumption

health risk

household energy

World Health Organization

aging

Article

China

female

health promotion

household

human

India

longitudinal study

low income country

major clinical study

male

middle aged

middle income country

risk factor

rural area

self report

sex ratio

urban area

visual system parameters

vulnerable population

Publication and Content Type

ref (subject category)

art (subject category)