The burden of age-related macular degeneration and its socioeconomic associates in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 1990 to 2021.

This research aimed to assess the trends in the burden of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) by age, sex, socio-demographic index (SDI), and location. We extracted data on the prevalence and years lived with disability (YLDs) of AMD from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) study 2021. The data included all 22 countries in the EMR from 1990 to 2021. Estimates were presented as counts, age-standardized rates per 100,000, and their corresponding 95% uncertainty intervals (UIs). In 2021, the EMR had an age-standardized point prevalence for AMD of 196.8 (95% UI: 161.5 to 240.2) and a YLD rate of 14.9 (10.3 to 20.5) per 100,000 individuals, which represents a decline of 8.1% (from - 11.1% to -5.0%) and 13.3% (from - 16.7% to -9.7%), respectively, when compared to the data from 1990. In 2021, Iran exhibited the highest age-standardized YLD rate at 25.0 (17.2 to 34.9), while Somalia recorded the lowest rate at 8.0 (5.2 to 11.8). Notably, all countries within the EMR demonstrated a reduction in their age-standardized YLD rates from 1990 to 2021, except Yemen. We found an M-shaped relationship between AMD burden and the SDI during 1990-2021. The burden initially increased until reaching an SDI of 0.3, followed by a decline to 0.4, then rose again, peaking at an SDI of 0.6, before showing a final descending trend at SDI values. Despite a reduction in the burden of AMD over the past thirty years, its prevalence continues to be remarkable. Our findings revealed that women experienced a greater burden of AMD than men in the EMR. Additionally, this study highlighted a reduction in age-standardized prevalence and YLD rates. These insights can serve as a foundational basis for developing policies aimed at preventing and treating AMD.