Metabolic syndrome components in relation to risk of cataract extraction: a prospective cohort study of women.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and some of its components with the incidence of cataract extraction.


METHODS
Population-based prospective cohort study.


METHODS
A total of 35,369 women, participating in the Swedish Mammography Cohort, aged 49 to 83 years, who completed a self-administered questionnaire about anthropometric measurements and lifestyle factors in 1997.


METHODS
The women were followed from September of 1997 to October of 2005. The cohort was matched with registers of cataract extraction in the study area.


METHODS
Incident surgical extraction of age-related cataract.


RESULTS
We identified 4508 incident cases of cataract extractions during 98 months of follow-up. In multivariate analysis, women with a waist circumference >or=80 cm had an 8% increased risk of cataract extraction (rate ratio [RR], 1.08; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.99-1.17). Women with diabetes had a 43% increased risk of cataract extraction (RR, 1.43; 95% CI, 1.10-1.86), and hypertension was associated with a 12% increased risk (RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 0.99-1.26). Women with all 3 components of the metabolic syndrome (waist >or=80 cm, diabetes, and hypertension) had a 68% increased risk of cataract extraction (RR, 1.68; 95% CI, 1.40-2.02) compared with women without any of these components. Among women aged less than 65 years at baseline with all 3 components of metabolic syndrome, the risk of cataract extraction was approximately 3-fold more (RR, 2.80; CI, 1.94-4.03).


CONCLUSIONS
Metabolic syndrome and its components, abdominal adiposity, diabetes, and hypertension, seem to be associated with an increased risk for cataract extraction, especially among women aged less than 65 years.
Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. birgitta.ejdervik.lindblad@swipnet.se
Birgitta Ejdervik
BE
Lindblad
Niclas
N
Håkansson
Bo
B
Philipson
Alicja
A
Wolk
D050153:Abdominal Fat / Q000503:physiopathology; D050154:Adiposity; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000886:Anthropometry; D002386:Cataract / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002387:Cataract Extraction; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D015994:Incidence; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden; D016387:Women's Health