Physical activity and the 15-year incidence of age-related macular degeneration.
OBJECTIVE
There is uncertainty in the published literature as to whether physical activity should be advocated for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) prevention. We aimed to assess prospectively the association between physical activity and the 15-year incidence of AMD in older adults.


METHODS
We assessed AMD from retinal photographs. Participants provided details of walking exercise and the performance of moderate or vigorous activities, which were used to calculate metabolic equivalents (METs).


RESULTS
After adjusting for age, adults aged ≥ 75 years in the highest tertile (the most physically active) compared to those in the lowest tertile (least physically active) were 79% less likely to have incident late AMD over the 15 years (odds ratio [OR], 0.21; 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.05-0.95). However, after further adjusting for sex, body mass index, smoking, fish consumption, and white cell count, this association was no longer statistically significant (OR, 0.26; 95% CI, 0.06-1.28). Significant associations were not found in those aged <75 or with the 15-year cumulative incidence of early AMD.


CONCLUSIONS
Physical activity did not influence the risk of AMD over 15 years in older adults, independent of diet, smoking, white cell count, and body mass index.
Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Bamini
B
Gopinath
Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Gerald
G
Liew
Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
George
G
Burlutsky
Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
Paul
P
Mitchell
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004032:Diet; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking; D016138:Walking; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology
Blue Mountains Eye Study; age-related macular degeneration; incidence; physical activity