LOC387715, smoking and their prognostic impact on visual functional status in age-related macular degeneration-The Muenster Aging and Retina Study (MARS) cohort.
OBJECTIVE
To prospectively evaluate the impact of homozygosity in the A69S-SNP of the LOC387715-gene, smoking history, and their interaction on visual functional status (v-FS) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD).


METHODS
The Muenster Aging and Retina Study (MARS) cohort (n = 656; 58.8% women, mean age 70.2 years) was followed over a mean of 2.5 years. AMD-status, genotype and smoking history were assessed at baseline. V-FS [from 0 (low) to 100 (unimpaired) points in general-, near- and far-vision], were AMD-status assessed at baseline and at follow-up. Linear models with stepwise adjustments for covariates were used to analyze decline of v-FS over time.


RESULTS
In initial models, homozygosity for the A69S-variant was negatively associated with all three dimensions of the v-FS. After including smoking history, ever smoking was negatively associated with declines in near and far vision (-4.82 and -5.12 points, respectively; each p < 0.05). In smokers homozygous for the A69S-variant the number of cigarettes smoked per day (smoking intensity) was negatively associated with all three dimensions of the v-FS (interaction term each p < 0.05). Time since smoking cessation in former smokers protected against declines in near and far vision. These effects were independent of the AMD-status at baseline.


CONCLUSIONS
The interaction of homozygosity for the A69S-variant and smoking intensity had a negative impact on general-, near-, and far visual functional status independent of AMD-status. Quitting smoking seemed to have a time-dependent protective effect on near and far vision.
Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, Clinical Epidemiology Section, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany. neuner@uni-muenster.de
Bruno
B
Neuner
Juergen
J
Wellmann
Burkhard
B
Dasch
Martha
M
Dietzel
Astrid
A
Farwick
Monika
M
Stoll
Daniel
D
Pauleikhoff
Hans-Werner
HW
Hense
D000368:Aged; D002874:Chromosome Mapping; D002879:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 10; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D014644:Genetic Variation; D006720:Homozygote; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016540:Smoking Cessation; D014785:Vision, Ocular / Q000235:genetics*