AIM: To determine the risk factors of age-related macular degeneration(ARMD)in high altitude areas and establish Nomoto prediction model.

METHODS:Using the method of cluster random sampling, the subjects were selected from some communities in Xining City, with an average altitude of 2 100m. The subjects were ≥40 years old, and the investigation method was field investigation. Single factor and multi factor analysis were used to determine the risk factors of ARMD, and R software was used to draw Nomoto.

RESULTS: The actual number of subjects in this survey is 2 595. Age, cataract, living time at high altitude, smoking, drinking, high blood pressure and mobile phone use are risk factors of ARMD. Old age was the most risk factor for ARMD(OR: 53.078, 95% CI: 28.405-77.183, P<0.001), followed by long-term use of mobile phones(OR: 9.142, 95% CI: 1.906-43.846, P<0.001). The DCA decision curve showed that when the Nomo score existed, the probability of predicting ARMD was almost the same as that of actual ARMD.

CONCLUSION: The risk factors of ARMD are old age, high altitude living time, cataract, smoking, drinking, high blood pressure and mobile phone using time, especially the old people who live in high altitude for a long time. Nomo scoring system can accurately predict ARMD and provide theoretical basis for clinicians to intervene ARMD in high altitude areas.