title: Association between zolpidem use and glaucoma risk: a Taiwanese population-based case-control study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To date, the relationship between zolpidem use and subsequent risk of glaucoma in a Taiwanese population has not been assessed.
  
  
  METHODS
  We used data from the National Health Insurance system to investigate whether zolpidem use was related to glaucoma risk. A 1:4 matched case-control study was conducted. The cases were patients newly diagnosed with glaucoma from 2001 to 2010. The controls were randomly selected non-glaucoma subjects matched by sex and age (± 5 years). Zolpidem exposure and/or the average dosage of zolpidem used (mg/year) were evaluated. Medical comorbidities were considered as confounding factors. Multiple logistic regression models were used to evaluate the potential risk of zolpidem exposure on glaucoma with/without adjustment for the effects of confounding variables.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The exposure rate of zolpidem use in the glaucoma group was significantly higher than that of the control group (2.8% vs. 2.0%, P < 0.0001). The adjusted odds ratio (OR) of the risk of glaucoma for those with zolpidem use vs. those without was 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.02-1.38). Compared to non-zolpidem users, zolpidem users with an average dose of more than 200 mg/year had significantly increased risk of glaucoma (OR 1.31, 95% CI 1.03-1.68).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that the use of zolpidem might increase the risk of subsequent glaucoma. Further confirmatory studies are recommended to clarify this important issue.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, China Medical University Hospital.
authors.forename: Yi-Hao
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Ho
authors.forename: Yue-Cune
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Wei-Cheng
authors.initials: WC
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Hsin-Yi
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Che-Chen
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Fung-Chang
authors.initials: FC
authors.lastname: Sung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009313:National Health Programs; D011725:Pyridines / Q000009:adverse effects*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D000077334:Zolpidem
chemical_list: D006993:Hypnotics and Sedatives; D011725:Pyridines; D000077334:Zolpidem