MyVisionTest News Archive
Feb 26, 2011
Diabetes mellitus increases AMD risk in Korea
Researchers have found a relationship between diabetes mellitus and early age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults, according to a new study.
Other than age, the epidemiologic risk factors most consistently associated with AMD are cardiovascular risk factors. Many cardiovascular disease risk factors have been suggested as potential risk factors for AMD, including smoking, elevated total serum cholesterol, higher body mass index (BMI), and hypertension. Of cardiovascular risk factors examined, only smoking has consistently been associated with higher AMD risk across different study populations. Other cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, have not been consistently associated with the prevalence or incidence of AMD in large population-based samples.
This study included 3008 participants aged 50 to 87 years. Early AMD was assessed from retinal photographs based on a modified Wisconsin AMD grading system. Diabetes mellitus was defined as a fasting glucose level of 126 mg/dL or greater or the use of antidiabetic medications. Logistic regression was used to examine the association between diabetes mellitus and early AMD.
There were 88 subjects with early AMD and 315 subjects with diabetes mellitus. After adjusting for age, sex, current smoking, obesity, and hypertension, significant association was found between diabetes mellitus and early AMD. Subjects with diabetes mellitus were more likely to have early AMD (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.28) than were those without diabetes mellitus.
The researchers conclude that there is a relationship between diabetes mellitus and early AMD in Korean adults 50 years and older. The underlying biological processes remain to be determined. The finding of an association between diabetes and AMD is not consistent with most prior studies, including a meta-analysis of 3 large prospective population-based studies, that have failed to find any association between diabets and AMD.
Read more...
Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Feb;129(2):196-9.
Tags: AMD, diabetes, racial differences
Researchers have found a relationship between diabetes mellitus and early age-related macular degeneration in Korean adults, according to a new study. Other than age, the epidemiologic risk factors most consistently associated with AMD are cardiovascular risk factors. Many cardiovascular disease risk factors have been suggested as potential risk factors for AMD, including smoking, elevated total serum cholesterol, higher body mass index (BMI), and hypertension. Of cardiovascular risk factors examined, only smoking has consistently been associated with higher AMD risk across different study populations. Other cardiovascular risk factors, including diabetes, have not been consistently associated with the prevalence or incidence of AMD in large population-based samples.
There were 88 subjects with early AMD and 315 subjects with diabetes mellitus. After adjusting for age, sex, current smoking, obesity, and hypertension, significant association was found between diabetes mellitus and early AMD. Subjects with diabetes mellitus were more likely to have early AMD (odds ratio, 1.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.07-3.28) than were those without diabetes mellitus.
The researchers conclude that there is a relationship between diabetes mellitus and early AMD in Korean adults 50 years and older. The underlying biological processes remain to be determined. The finding of an association between diabetes and AMD is not consistent with most prior studies, including a meta-analysis of 3 large prospective population-based studies, that have failed to find any association between diabets and AMD.
Read more...
Arch Ophthalmol. 2011 Feb;129(2):196-9.
