Analysis of Refractive Errors and the Prevalence of Ophthalmological Diseases Associated With Them on the Basis of Estonian Health Insurance Fund Medical Data
Name
Irina Häelm
Abstract
As currently known, there is a lack of existing thorough research to map the occurrence statistics of refractive visual impairments and ophthalmological diseases, and the direct association between them.
The aim of this Master’s dissertation was to give a thorough overview of the methodology of epidemiological analysis based on observational data, and to describe the application and accuracy of this based on Estonian Health Insurance Fund medical data, by examining refractive errors and the prevalence of ophthalmological diseases associated with them.
The research results concluded that the applied OHDSI (Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics) Patient-Level Estimation analytics tools enable to detect the associations outlined in the literature from the observational data.
Similarly to the reflections evident within the literature, the data analysed as part of this dissertation highlighted that it was more likely for patients with hyperopia to develop the diagnosis of amblyopia, strabismus and angle-closure glaucoma. In regards to myopia, these patients were more likely to develop the diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma, cataract, as well as retinal tears and detachment. The data analysis executed as part of this dissertation did not identify significant statistical connections between astigmatism and ophthalmological diseases.
In addition to the above, the dissertation outlined the occurrence statistics of the highlighted diagnoses in Estonia, and compared these to the existing literature.
The aim of this Master’s dissertation was to give a thorough overview of the methodology of epidemiological analysis based on observational data, and to describe the application and accuracy of this based on Estonian Health Insurance Fund medical data, by examining refractive errors and the prevalence of ophthalmological diseases associated with them.
The research results concluded that the applied OHDSI (Observational Health Data Sciences and Informatics) Patient-Level Estimation analytics tools enable to detect the associations outlined in the literature from the observational data.
Similarly to the reflections evident within the literature, the data analysed as part of this dissertation highlighted that it was more likely for patients with hyperopia to develop the diagnosis of amblyopia, strabismus and angle-closure glaucoma. In regards to myopia, these patients were more likely to develop the diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma, cataract, as well as retinal tears and detachment. The data analysis executed as part of this dissertation did not identify significant statistical connections between astigmatism and ophthalmological diseases.
In addition to the above, the dissertation outlined the occurrence statistics of the highlighted diagnoses in Estonia, and compared these to the existing literature.
Graduation Thesis language
Estonian
Graduation Thesis type
Master - Conversion Master in IT
Supervisor(s)
Raivo Kolde
Defence year
2021