Analyses of Risk Factors of Age-related Macular Degeneration Using Routine Health Check-up Data

ABSTRACT

Purpose@#To investigate risk factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with routine health check-up data. @*Methods@#Among 9,019 patients older than 40 years who underwent a routine health checkup at a single institution of South Korea from January to December 2017, 7,018 patients were enrolled in this retrospective study. An additional 2,001 patients were accepted, due to the absence of a fundus photo or having a fundus photo of poor quality. @*Results@#Among 7,018 patients, 183 patients were diagnosed with AMD. We diagnosed 104 patients with early-phase, 75 patients with intermediate-phase, and 4 patients with late-phase AMD. The AMD groups were compared to a control group using one-way analysis of variance. The control, early, and intermediate groups showed meaningful differences with respect to age. In propensity score matching for age and sex, no differences were observed with respect to blood pressure, body mass index, or weight; however, significant differences were evident for the parameters of hepatitis B surface antigen, alkaline phosphatase, platelet, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, gamma glutamyl transferase, high density lipoprotein (HDL), carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), C-reactive protein (CRP), status of exercise, drinking, and smoking between the control and AMD groups. In multiple logistic regression analyses with relevant factors, a strong positive relationship was established for hepatitis B surface antigen, HDL, CRP and CEA elevation, absence of exercise, and current smoking in AMD patients. @*Conclusions@#Risk for AMD was strongly correlated with hepatitis B surface antigen, elevation of HDL, CEA and CRP in blood tests, the absence of exercise, and a history of smoking.