Risk of cataract and glaucoma in patients with multiple sclerosis.
BACKGROUND
The aim of the study was to evaluate whether multiple sclerosis (MS) is associated with risk of cataract or glaucoma.


METHODS
We conducted a population-based cohort study utilizing the UK General Practice Research Database (1987-2009) linked to the national hospital registry of England (1997-2008). Incident MS patients (5576 cases) were identified and each was matched to six patients without MS (controls) by age, gender, and practice. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) of incident cataract and glaucoma in MS. Time-dependent adjustments were made for age, history of diseases and drug use.


RESULTS
MS patients had no overall increased risk of cataract, adjusted (adj.) HR 1.15 (95% CI 0.94-1.41) or glaucoma, adj. HR 1.02 (95% CI 0.78-1.33). Risk of cataract (adj. HR 2.45 (95% CI 1.56-3.86)) and glaucoma (adj. HR 1.70 (95% CI 1.01-2.86)) was significantly greater in patients < 50 years, particularly in men < 50 years: cataract, adj. HR 4.23 (95% CI 2.22-8.05) and glaucoma, adj. HR 2.76 (95% CI 1.28-5.93).


CONCLUSIONS
This is the first study which showed that the risk of cataract and glaucoma is elevated in MS patients younger than 50 years, particularly men.
Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Marloes T
MT
Bazelier
Sigrid
S
Mueller-Schotte
Hubert G M
HG
Leufkens
Bernard M J
BM
Uitdehaag
Tjeerd
T
van Staa
Frank
F
de Vries
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005938:Glucocorticoids / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D053208:Kaplan-Meier Estimate; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009103:Multiple Sclerosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012042:Registries; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult
D005938:Glucocorticoids