Cardiovascular disease,vascular risk factors and the incidence of cataract and cataract surgery: The Blue Mountains Eye Study |
| |
Authors: | Christine Younan Paul Mitchell Robert Cumming Elena Rochtchina Jai Panchapakesan |
| |
Affiliation: | 1. Department of Ophthalmology and the Westmead Millennium and Save Sight Institutes;2. Department of Public Health Community Medicine, the University of Sydney, Australia |
| |
Abstract: | PURPOSE To assess whether an association exists between cardiovascular disease, vascular risk factors and incident cataract and cataract surgery. METHODS The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 participants =49 years of age during 1992–4, then 2335 survivors (75.1%) after five years. Trained interviewers administered a vascular history questionnaire; height, weight and blood pressure were measured. Lens photographs from both examinations were graded for presence of cortical, nuclear or posterior subcapsular cataract. RESULTS Obesity (body mass index =30kg/m 2 ) was significantly associated with increased incidence of both cortical [odds ratio (OR) 1.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.2–2.2] and posterior subcapsular cataract (OR 2.1, CI 1.2–3.7). Hypertensive participants using medication and aged less than 65 years at baseline had a higher incidence of posterior subcapsular cataract (OR 3.4, 95% CI 1.3–8.4) than normotensive subjects. A history of angina was associated with higher cataract surgery incidence (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.3–3.5). CONCLUSIONS These longitudinal data provide some evidence supporting a relationship between cardiovascular disease, vascular risk factors and incident cataract and cataract surgery. The findings confirm a number of associations previously documented in cross-sectional data. |
| |
Keywords: | Roxithromycin SAFE strategy trachoma trichiasis Zambia |
|
|