AIM: To describe the prevalence of age-related macular degeneration(AMD)in aged 50 years and older population in Shunqing District of Nanchong and to investigate the associated risk factors of AMD.

METHODS:Population-based cross-sectional of epidemiological investigation. Persons aged 50 years and older, recruited between May to October 2013, from Shunqing District of Nanchong, Sichuan province, China. Totally 2242 eligible residents who aged 50 years and older were selected using a stratified, clustered, and random sampling technique. All participants underwent a standardized interview concerning general data, physical examinations, laboratory examinations, and comprehensive eye examinations. The diagnostic criteria was followed the international clinical classification systems. The survey data were analyzed by statistical software SPSS 13.0.

RESULTS: Totally 2242 participates, whole examination were finished for 2097 persons, with the examination rate of 93.53%. There were 207 patients(283 eyes)were diagnosed as AMD, with the total prevalence rates of 9.87% and the standardized prevalence rates of 9.73%. Early and late AMD prevalence rates were 9.25% and 0.62%, respectively, among participants, in which the prevalence of exudative AMD were 0.14%. The prevalences of AMD in the age groups of 50-59, 60-69, 70-79 and no less than 80 years were 6.38%, 9.27%, 14.69% and 17.39%, respectively. The visual acuity of late AMD was significantly worse than early AMD. The prevalence of bilateral blindness and low vision were 0.48% and 1.45% of the AMD patients. There were eight factors associated with AMD: age, systolic blood pressure, smoking, sun exposure, history of diabetes, cataract surgery and serum total cholesterol were the risk factors of AMD, while the level of education was a protective factor.

CONCLUSION: The prevalence of AMD in Shunqing District of Nanchong was 9.87%. With the age increasing, the prevalence rate of AMD was significantly increased. The late AMD affected vision seriously. The risk factors of AMD included age, systolic blood pressure, smoking, sun exposure, history of diabetes, cataract surgery and serum total cholesterol, and the protective factor was the level of education.