title: Bidirectional association between the risk of comorbidities and the diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion in an elderly population: a nationwide population-based study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common retinal vascular disease, with peak incidence at 70years of age. However, the bidirectional association between the risk of comorbidities and the diagnosis of RVO in this population is uncertain.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-based cohort of 1,784,960 patients 70years of age and older retrieved from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Research Database between 2000 and 2010. Risks of comorbidities were assessed 5years before and after the diagnosis of RVO.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In our study, 3393 subjects had central RVO (CRVO) and 6688 subjects had branch RVO (BRVO). Before the diagnosis of RVO, patients showed increased risks for the following comorbidities: hypertension (odds ratio [OR]=1.83, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.74-1.93), dyslipidemia (OR=1.29, [1.23-1.35]), DM (OR=1.29, [1.23-1.35]), liver disease (OR=1.22, [1.16-1.29]), renal disease (OR=1.30, [1.23-1.37]), and cerebrovascular disease (OR=1.16, [1.11-1.21]). After the diagnosis of RVO, patients were at greater risk of developing DM (adjusted hazard ratio [AHR]=1.12, [1.06-1.19]), PAD (AHR=1.17, [1.08-1.27]), and MACE (AHR=1.35, [1.25-1.46]); however, the risk of all-cause mortality was unchanged. Elderly patients with CRVO had a significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (AHR=1.09, [1.02-1.17]), whereas patients with BRVO showed no significant differences in mortality.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests bidirectional association between the risk of comorbidities and the diagnosis of RVO in an elderly population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Emergency, Kuang Tien General Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Hsiang
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shu-Yu
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Yuanshan Branch, Yilan, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chia-Jen
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Shih
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei City Hospital Heping Fuyou Branch, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Yung-Tai
authors.initials: YT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan; Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Shuo-Ming
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ou
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine, National Yang-Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan; Department of Neurology, Neurological Institute, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan. Electronic address: asas33alee@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yi-Jung
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Lee
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D002561:Cerebrovascular Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011159:Population Surveillance / Q000379:methods; D012170:Retinal Vein Occlusion / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
keywords: Elderly; Major adverse cardiac events; Retinal vein occlusion