The effect of hormone therapy on the risk for age-related maculopathy in postmenopausal women.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the effect of postmenopausal hormone therapy (HT) as well as the use of oral contraceptives and lifetime endogenous hormone exposure on the risk for age-related maculopathy (ARM) in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional, controlled study. A total of 102 women from 60 to 80 years of age who were receiving HT and 100 controls underwent a detailed clinical funduscopic evaluation and stereoscopic fundus photography for the presence and grading of ARM. All participants completed a standardized questionnaire regarding vascular risk factors, HT, and lifetime exogenous and endogenous estrogen and progesterone exposure. Statistical analysis was performed using Student's t test, chi2 test, and a multivariate logistic regression model.


RESULTS
The HT and the non-HT groups did not differ in terms of early (11% v 15%), late (6% v 6%), or wet (2% v 2%) ARM prevalence rates. Women with ARM were significantly older than controls (69 v 66 years; P = 0.001, 95% CI = 0.008 - 0.027) and were more likely to have ischemic heart disease (21% v 9%; OR = 2.86, P = 0.03, 95% CI = 0.020 - 0.360). Lifetime exogenous and endogenous hormone exposures and other cardiovascular risk factors were not significantly different among women with ARM as compared with controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Postmenopausal HT may not affect the risk for either early or late ARM in women aged 60 to 80 years. The risk for both entities is not necessarily affected by either exogenous or endogenous lifetime hormone exposure. A history of ischemic heart disease may be associated with an increased risk for ARM.
Abramov
Yoram
Y
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and the Department of Ophthalmology, Hadassah Medical Center, Ein-Kerem, Jerusalem, Israel.
Borik
Sharon
S
Yahalom
Claudia
C
Fatum
Muhammad
M
Avgil
Gadiel
G
Brzezinski
Amnon
A
Banin
Eyal
E
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy; D004967:Estrogens / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D017698:Postmenopause / Q000502:physiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D011374:Progesterone / Q000008:administration & dosage; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D004967:Estrogens; D011374:Progesterone