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The association between obesity and glaucoma in older adults: evidence from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study
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Xiaohuan Zhao
 , Qiyu Bo, Junran Sun, Jieqiong Chen, Tong Li, Xiaoxu Huang, Minwen Zhou, Jing Wang, Wenjia Liu, Xiaodong Sun
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Epidemiol Health. 2023;45:e2023034. Published online March 9, 2023
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.4178/epih.e2023034
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 Abstract
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Abstract
OBJECTIVES
This study evaluated the association between obesity and glaucoma in middle-aged and older people. A population-based retrospective cohort study was conducted using data from the China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study.
METHODS Glaucoma was assessed via self-reports. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and a Cox proportional hazards model were used to assess the relationship between obesity and glaucoma risk.
RESULTS Older males living in urban areas who were single, smokers, and non-drinkers were found to have a significantly higher incidence of glaucoma (all p<0.05). Diabetes, hypertension, and kidney disease were also associated with higher glaucoma risk, while dyslipidemia was associated with lower risk (all p<0.05). After the model was adjusted for demographic, socioeconomic, and health-related variables, obesity was significantly associated with a 10.2% decrease in glaucoma risk according to the Cox proportional hazards model (hazard ratio, 0.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.83 to 0.97) and an 11.8% risk reduction in the multivariate logistic regression analysis (odds ratio, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.80 to 0.97). A further subgroup analysis showed that obesity was associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma in people living in rural areas, in smokers, and in those with kidney disease (all p<0.05). Obesity also reduced glaucoma risk in people with diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia more than in healthy controls (all p<0.05).
CONCLUSIONS This cohort study suggests that obesity was associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma, especially in rural residents, smokers, and people with kidney disease. Obesity exerted a stronger protective effect in people with diabetes, hypertension, or dyslipidemia than in healthy people.
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Summary
Key Message
Glaucoma is a neurodegenerative disease and the leading cause of irreversible vision loss worldwide. The diagnosis of glaucoma is frequently delayed, as it may be asymptomatic until a relatively late stage. Thus, there is a need to identify protective and risk factors for glaucoma. Glaucoma is a multifactorial disease, and the impact of obesity on glaucoma risk remains uncertain. This study evaluated the association between obesity and glaucoma in middle-aged and older people. This cohort study suggests that obesity was associated with a reduced risk of glaucoma, especially in rural residents, smokers, and people with kidney disease.
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