Self-Reported Sleep Duration in Patients with Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Purpose: To examine the relationship between self-reported sleep duration and neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD).

Methods: This case-control study comprised 165 subjects (57 patients with nAMD and 108 controls). Controls were matched to cases by age and sex. Participants completed a questionnaire that included questions about sleep duration and quality. Four categories of sleep duration were established; <6 hours, 6–7 hours, 7–8 hours and >8 hours. Association of sleep duration and nAMD was assessed by logistic regression analysis. Multiple logistic regression models were performed to control for possible confounders.

Results: We found a significant association between short sleep duration and nAMD (for <6 hours, odds ratio, OR, 3.29, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.32–8.27; for 6–7 hours, OR 2.25, 95% CI 0.80–6.32; and for >8 hours, OR 1.39, 95% CI 0.53–3.73) compared with the reference category of 7–8 hours. This association remained significant after adjustment for confounders (<6 hours, OR 3.09, 95% CI 1.20–7.97). In addition, a borderline significant association was observed between self-reported very bad sleep quality and nAMD (OR 2.84, 95% CI 1.02–7.88). The highest rate of sleep medication use was found in the nAMD group (p < 0.001).

Conclusion: Our findings provide evidence to support an association between short sleep duration and nAMD. Considering strategies to improve sleep in these patients may prevent the negative effects of sleep deficiency.