Risk Factors of Age-Related Macular Degeneration in a Population-Based Study: Results from SHIP-TREND-1 (Study of Health in Pomerania-TREND-1).

BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the most common cause of visual impairment in the elderly population in industrialized countries. The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) with its cohort SHIP-TREND was designed to investigate risk factors and clinical disorders in the general population of northeast Germany. This work focused on the first follow-up of SHIP-TREND and determined associated modifiable risk factors of AMD. Modifying risk factors is important to slow the progression of early AMD as there is currently no treatment for the late stage of geographic atrophy. Understanding AMD-associated risk factors also plays an important role in the development of therapeutic concepts. MATERIAL AND METHODS Between 2016 and 2019, data were collected from a total of 2507 initially randomly selected subjects from the general population aged 28 to 89 years. Non-mydriatic fundus photography of the right eye was performed in 2489 subjects. Grading of AMD was performed using the Rotterdam classification system. RESULTS We included 1418 gradable fundus photographs in the analysis. The risk of AMD changes increased with age and was positively correlated with HDL cholesterol, fT3, and low educational level. In men, BMI and cigarette smoking were also positively associated with AMD changes. CONCLUSIONS This study emphasizes the consideration of various metabolic pathways for the development of therapeutic concepts.

Association between cardiorespiratory fitness and handgrip strength with age-related macular degeneration: a population-based study.

AIM: To assess whether cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and handgrip strength, two objective markers of physical fitness, are associated with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). METHODS: We analysed cross-sectional data from the population-based Study of Health in Pomerania (2008-2012) including 1173 adult men and women aged 20-79 years. Fundus photography of the central retina was recorded with a non-mydriatic camera, and images were graded according to an established clinical AMD classification scale by an experienced reader. CRF was measured using peak oxygen uptake (peakVO2), oxygen uptake at the anaerobic threshold (VO2@AT), and maximum power output (Wmax) from standardised cardiopulmonary exercise testing on a bicycle ergometer according to a modified Jones protocol. Handgrip strength was assessed using a handheld dynamometer. Adjusted prevalence ratios (PR) for the associations of peakVO2, VO2@AT, Wmax and handgrip strength with AMD were derived from multivariable Poisson regression models. RESULTS: PeakVO2, VO2@AT, Wmax and handgrip strength were not associated with AMD. Adjusted PR for AMD associated with a 1-SD increment in peakVO2, VO2@AT, Wmax and handgrip strength were 1.05 (95% CI 0.82 to 1.34), 0.96 (95% CI 0.78 to 1.18), 1.10 (95% CI 0.86 to 1.41) and 1.01 (95% CI 0.79 to 1.30), respectively. These associations were not modified by age, sex, smoking, body mass index and diabetes. Estimates in sensitivity analysis for confounding, selection bias and missing data were similar. CONCLUSION: In our study, CRF and handgrip strength were not associated with AMD. Nevertheless, longitudinal studies with bigger sample sizes are needed to furtherly examine these associations.

Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Associated Risk Factors in the Population-Based Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-Trend).

BACKGROUND Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries, especially in the older population. The Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP) is a population-based study designed to investigate risk factors and clinical disorders in the general population. In the present study, we analysed the AMD prevalence and risk factors in the north-eastern German population. MATERIAL AND METHODS From 2008 to 2012, we collected data among participants ages 29-79 years. The study population consisted of 4420 individuals. Non-mydriatic retinal photographs were taken of 3934 participants. AMD stages were graded according to the Rotterdam Classification System and the International Classification System. RESULTS Photographs from 1854 participants were available for grading. The baseline examinations showed small hard drusen (<63 µm, stage 0b and 0c) were present in 10.7% of the participants (stage 0b in 7.5% and stage 0c in 3.2%). Earliest signs of AMD were detected in 28.68% (stage 0b in 7.5% and stage 1b in 21.18%). Late AMD (geographic atrophy and neovascular AMD, stages 4a and 4b) were identified in 0.43% (stage 4a in 0.16% and stage 4b 0.27%). Risk of AMD increased significantly with age and higher body mass index, waist circumference, hip circumference, and weight-waist-ratio. Smoking, sex, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, HbA1c, cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, and triglyceride were not associated with AMD in this study. CONCLUSIONS The prevalence of AMD increases with age and obesity-associated factors. These results must be verified in the follow-up. Data concerning the incidence of AMD will be available after the 5- and 10-year follow-ups.