title: The KORA Eye Study: a population-based study on eye diseases in Southern Germany (KORA F4).
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The population-based KORA (Cooperative Health Research in the Region of Augsburg [Germany]) study was used to evaluate the prevalence of eye diseases and potential interactions with general health status, laboratory data, medication, and genetic background.
  
  
  METHODS
  In all, 2593 probands, ranging in age from 32 to 71 years (mean: 52 years), were asked in a standardized interview for the presence of cataracts, glaucoma, and corneal or retinal disorders; positive answers were validated and specified by treating ophthalmologists. Additional data came from a questionnaire or from laboratory data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We validated 10 probands with corneal diseases (validation rate: 32%), 26 with retinal diseases (validation rate: 60%), 40 with glaucoma (validation rate: 75%), and 100 participants with cataracts (validation rate: 88%). Glaucoma was significantly associated with increasing age, diabetes and its treatment, and the use of drugs in airway diseases. Cataracts were significantly associated with increasing age, female sex, hypertension, and diabetes. In females, cataracts were particularly associated with the use of ophthalmological corticosteroids, some antihypertensives, and antidiabetics. In contrast, cataracts in males were associated only with the use of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. We also tested some polymorphic markers; two (GJA8, CRYBB3) were significantly associated with cataracts.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Self-reported ocular diagnoses by questionnaire showed varying degrees of accuracy; this method of data collection is valid, providing confirmation is obtained from treating ophthalmologists. It revealed a similar profile of major risk factors for cataracts (age, female sex, and diabetes) in Germany like that of other international studies. The reported associations between medical treatment and genetic polymorphisms in early-onset cataract merit further functional study.
authors.affiliation: Helmholtz Center Munich, German Research Center for Environmental Health, Institute of Developmental Genetics, D-85764 Neuherberg, Germany. graw@helmholtz-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Jochen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Graw
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Welzl
authors.forename: Nafees
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.forename: Norman
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Klopp
authors.forename: Margit
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Heier
authors.forename: Andrea
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wulff
authors.forename: Joachim
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Heinrich
authors.forename: Angela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Döring
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Karrasch
authors.forename: Dennis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Nowak
authors.forename: Holger
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schulz
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Rathmann
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Illig
authors.forename: Annette
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Peters
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Holle
authors.forename: Christa
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meisinger
authors.forename: H Erich
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Wichmann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D003316:Corneal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D005843:Geography; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020641:Polymorphism, Single Nucleotide; D044382:Population Groups; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics; D012307:Risk Factors; D018434:Sickness Impact Profile; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires