摘要：This study used Medicare Part B claims and enrollment data to estimate the prevalence of macular disease in Kansas at county and area levels. Spatial analysis by aggregated county clusters was assessed with standardized prevalence ratios and 95% confidence intervals, and a thematic map was produced to illustrate geographic distribution. A total of 17888 unduplicated claims were identified among 335132 beneficiaries older than age 64 years. Compared with the state prevalence of 5.34%, the central agricultural area showed a disproportionately high macular disease prevalence. Previous disease mapping focused primarily on infectious diseases, cancer, and heart disease. 1 From a public health perspective, 2 spatial analysis of the prevalence of macular disease in an elderly population may be fruitful for several reasons. Age-related maculopathy is the leading cause of irreversible blindness, 3, 4 with vast psychosocial effect and economic cost 5, 6 ; prevalence is likely to increase in the absence of a preventive strategy 7, 8 ; and data in Kansas and other states are limited. 9– 12 The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services maintains a computerized database of claims for physician services (Part B). 13 Approximately 96% of the population aged 64 and older in Kansas is covered by Part B insurance. 14 Although Medicare data have been used to map several diseases and conditions in older adults, 15– 17 the use of Medicare data as a source for spatial analysis of macular disease has not been explored.
