title: Risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in Argentina.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the risk factors of age-related macular degeneration in Argentina using a case-control study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surveys were used for subjects' antioxidant intake, age/gender, race, body mass index, hypertension, diabetes (and type of treatment), smoking, sunlight exposure, red meat consumption, fish consumption, presence of age-related macular degeneration and family history of age-related macular degeneration. Main effects models for logistic regression and ordinal logistic regression were used to analyze the results.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 175 cases and 175 controls with a mean age of 75.4 years and 75.5 years, respectively, of whom 236 (67.4%) were female. Of the cases with age-related macular degeneration, 159 (45.4%) had age-related macular degeneration in their left eyes, 154 (44.0%) in their right eyes, and 138 (39.4%) in both eyes. Of the cases with age-related macular degeneration in their left eyes, 47.8% had the dry type, 40.3% had the wet type, and the type was unknown for 11.9%. The comparable figures for right eyes were: 51.9%, 34.4%, and 13.7%, respectively. The main effects model was dominated by higher sunlight exposure (OR [odds ratio]: 3.3) and a family history of age-related macular degeneration (OR: 4.3). Other factors included hypertension (OR: 2.1), smoking (OR: 2.2), and being of the Mestizo race, which lowered the risk of age-related macular degeneration (OR: 0.40). Red meat/fish consumption, body mass index, and iris color did not have an effect. Higher age was associated with progression to more severe age-related macular degeneration.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Sunlight exposure, family history of age-related macular degeneration, and an older age were the significant risk factors. There may be other variables, as the risk was not explained very well by the existing factors. A larger sample may produce different and better results.
authors.affiliation: Fundación Hugo Nano, Buenos Aires, Argentina.
authors.forename: María Eugenia
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: Van Charles
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Lansingh
authors.forename: María Soledad
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Pighin
authors.forename: Natalia
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Zarate
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: Marissa Janine
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: João Marcello
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Furtado
authors.forename: Clelia Crespo
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Nano
authors.forename: Luciana Fiocca
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Vernengo
authors.forename: José Domingo
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Kristen Allison
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Eckert
mesh_terms: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001118:Argentina / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005192:Family Health; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D013472:Sunlight / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires