Age-related eye disease, visual impairment, and survival: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the relationship of age-related maculopathy, cataract, glaucoma, visual impairment, and diabetic retinopathy to survival during a 14-year period.


METHODS
Persons ranging in age from 43 to 84 years in the period from September 15, 1987, to May 4, 1988, participated in the baseline examination of the population-based Beaver Dam Eye Study (n = 4926). Standardized protocols, including photography, were used to determine the presence of ocular disease. Survival was followed using standardized protocols.


RESULTS
As of December 31, 2002, 32% of the baseline population had died (median follow-up, 13.2 years). After adjusting for age, sex, and systemic and lifestyle factors, poorer survival was associated with cortical cataract (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06-1.37), any cataract (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.03-1.32), diabetic retinopathy (HR per 1-step increase in 4-level severity, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.14-1.63), and visual impairment (HR, 1.24; 95% CI, 1.04-1.48) and marginally associated with increasing severity of nuclear sclerosis (HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 0.99-1.16). Age-related maculopathy and glaucoma were not associated with poorer survival. Associations tended to be slightly stronger in men than women.


CONCLUSIONS
Cataract, diabetic retinopathy, and visual impairment were associated with poorer survival and not explained by traditional risk factors for mortality. These ocular conditions may serve as markers for mortality in the general population.
Knudtson
Michael D
MD
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison 53726-2336, USA. knudtson@epi.ophth.wisc.edu
Klein
Barbara E K
BE
Klein
Ronald
R
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D002386:Cataract / Q000401:mortality; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000401:mortality; D005128:Eye Diseases / Q000401:mortality*; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000401:mortality; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000401:mortality; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D015996:Survival Rate; D014786:Vision Disorders / Q000401:mortality*; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology