Atherosclerotic disease in patients undergoing cataract extraction. A nationwide case-control study. The Cataract Patient Outcomes Research Team.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the association between cataract extraction and atherosclerosis and its complications.


METHODS
A nationwide case-control study.


METHODS
Using a 5% random sample of all Medicare beneficiaries, we analyzed Medicare claims data on 60803 persons 65 years of age and older who underwent cataract extraction in 1986 or 1987 and a control group of 63765 persons matched to the cases for age, race, sex, ZIP code, and reason for Medicare entitlement.


METHODS
Atherosclerosis and atherosclerosis-related disease and procedures were defined by International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification, codes or by Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Classification System (Current Procedural Terminology) codes. The strength of evidence for atherosclerotic disease was categorized on the basis of the types of bills in the Medicare claims file.


RESULTS
Odds of atherosclerosis-related morbidity and procedures were higher for cases than for controls. The association decreased with patient age and was strongest in beneficiaries aged 65 to 69 years (odds ratio, 1.30; 95% confidence interval, 1.13-1.48).


CONCLUSIONS
Our findings suggest that there is a weak association between a visually significant cataract requiring surgery and atherosclerosis in the younger elderly.
Worthen Center for Eye Care Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Georgetown University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA.
D A
DA
Street
J C
JC
Javitt
Q
Q
Wang
J M
JM
Tielsch
J K
JK
Canner
E B
EB
Bass
E P
EP
Steinberg
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract / Q000150:complications; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology