Risk factors for cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular cataracts: the POLA study. Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age.
The POLA (Pathologies Oculaires Liées à L'Age) Study is a population-based study of cataract and age-related macular degeneration and their risk factors being carried out among 2,584 residents of Sète, southern France, aged 60-95 years. Recruitment took place between June 1995 and July 1997. Cataract classification was based on a standardized lens examination by slit lamp, according to Lens Opacities Classification System III. This paper presents results obtained from cross-sectional analysis of the first phase of the study. In polytomous logistic regression analyses, an increased risk of cataract was found for female sex (cataract surgery: odds ratio (OR) = 3.03; cortical cataract: OR = 1.67), brown irises (cortical, nuclear, and mixed cataracts: OR = 1.61), smoking (cataract surgery: OR = 2.34 for current smokers and OR = 3.75 for former smokers), known diabetes of 10 or more years' duration (posterior subcapsular, cortical, and mixed cataracts and cataract surgery: OR = 2.72), use of oral corticosteroids for at least 5 years (posterior subcapsular cataract: OR = 3.25), asthma or chronic bronchitis (cataract surgery: OR = 2.04), cancer (posterior subcapsular cataract: OR = 1.92), and cardiovascular disease (cortical cataract: OR = 1.96). Decreased risk of cataract was found with higher education (all types of cataract and cataract surgery: OR = 0.59), hypertension (cataract surgery: OR = 0.57), and high plasma retinol levels (nuclear and mixed cataracts and cataract surgery: OR = 0.75 for a 1-standard-deviation increase). Most of the risk factors identified in this study confirm the findings of other studies. The association of cataract with plasma retinol level requires further investigation.
Delcourt
C
C
Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM), Unité 500, Montpellier, France.
Cristol
J P
JP
Tessier
F
F
Léger
C L
CL
Michel
F
F
Papoz
L
L
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000009:adverse effects; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001249:Asthma / Q000453:epidemiology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007904:Lens Cortex, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D007907:Lens Nucleus, Crystalline / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D014801:Vitamin A