ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: To explore the risk factors of primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in women. METHODS: This retrospective, case-control study collected 128 female patients with POAG and 142 female with normal controls without POAG from 2009 to 2010. The risk factors including family history, hypertension, diabetes, age of menarche, age of menopause, parity, oral contraceptive (OC) use, hormone therapy were analyzed by logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Compared with normal control group using logistic regression analysis, there were significant differences in such risk factors in POAG group as family history (OR = 43.36, 95%CI: 5.69 - 346.67; P < 0.001), hypertension(OR = 3.29, 95%CI: 1.82 - 5.94; P < 0.001), age of menarche (OR = 2.046, 95%CI: 1.17 - 3.54; P = 0.011), age of menopause (OR = 0.57, 95%CI: 0.32 - 0.99; P = 0.049), hormone therapy (OR = 0.29, 95%CI: 0.09 - 0.92; P = 0.036). CONCLUSIONS: Family history and hypertension are high risk factors to develop POAG for women. However, female hormones may play a protective role in women with POAG.
