title: Survival of glaucoma patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the survival of patients with capsular or simple glaucoma compared with that of the common population, with particular attention to the impact of sex and use of acetazolamide (Diamox).
  
  
  METHODS
  The 30 year survival of 1147 patients with capsular or simple glaucoma who were finally hospitalized at the Eye Department, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, from 1961 to 1970, are analysed, using log rank tests. The time varying impacts of sex and acetazolamide on survival are also studied using a regression model.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There was a significant increased mortality for patients with acetazolamide, and for men also those not using it. The observed mortality for men was initially lower than the average Norwegian population, but later the mortality increased more rapidly in the glaucoma group. This may be explained by a selection of the healthiest patients to Rikshospitalet, and actually indicates that the excess mortality is even higher than calculated here.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The analysis of data indicated increased mortality for glaucoma patients when the disease had lasted for some time. This was especially pronounced for men using acetazolamide. A similar study from a period when acetazolamide was not in common use and an analysis of causes of death is also asked for.
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, Rikshopitalet, University of Oslo, Norway.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Egge
authors.forename: P H
authors.initials: PH
authors.lastname: Zahl
mesh_terms: D000086:Acetazolamide / Q000009:adverse effects; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors / Q000009:adverse effects; D002423:Cause of Death; D005260:Female; D005902:Glaucoma, Open-Angle / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000401:mortality*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D012042:Registries; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate
chemical_list: D002257:Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibitors; D000086:Acetazolamide