title: Association between macular degeneration and mild to moderate chronic kidney disease: A nationwide population-based study.
abstract: Chronic kidney disease (CKD) and macular degeneration (MD) are 2 grave diseases leading to significant disability secondary to renal failure and blindness. The 2 diseases share not only common risk factors but also similar pathogenic mechanisms to renal and retinal injuries. Previous epidemiological studies indicated association between these 2 diseases. However, this concept is challenged by recent investigations. Patients with mild to moderate CKD (n = 30,696) between January 1, 1995 and December 31, 2005 were selected from the Taiwan National Health Insurance Database. Controls (n = 122,784) were matched by age, gender, diabetes mellitus type 2, and hypertension status (1:4 ratios). The risk of MD was compared between the 2 groups. The mean age of patients was 54.9 ± 15.7 years. The proportion of MD was 2.7% in mild to moderate CKD patients and 1.9% in normal controls (P < 0.001); and, 0.39% and 0.26% (P < 0.001) in advanced MD. Mild to moderate CKD patients had higher risk for MD [adjusted odds ratio (OR), 1.301; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.200-1.411; P < 0.001] than normal renal function subjects. The association was more pronounced for advanced MD. From all age strata (10 years increase), the presence of CKD in those patients aged less than 40 years had highest OR for all MD (OR = 2.125, 95% CI: 1.417-3.186, P < 0.001). The results were consistent in interaction terms, highlighting the importance of CKD in young age patient for risk of MD. The high risk for MD in mild to moderate CKD patients remains significant after adjustment for personal habits (alcohol drinking and smoking, model 1; OR: 1.371; 95% CI: 1.265-1.486; P < 0.001), comorbidities (dyslipidemia, cerebrovascular disease, and peripheral vascular disease, model 2; OR: 1.369; 95% CI: 1.264-1.484; P < 0.001) and all these factors (model 3; OR: 1.320, 95% CI: 1.218-1.431, P < 0.001). This association was consistent in the subanalysis, excluding those patients with diabetic retinopathy. Proper diagnosis and timely intervention should be warranted to retard visual loss of these patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan Community Medicine Research Center, Keelung Chang Gung Memorial Hospital Department of General Surgery Department of Ophthalmology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung Department of Chinese Medicine, College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan Department of Nephrology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Linkuo, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Chun-Yu
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Ciou-Sia
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Dai
authors.forename: Chin-Chan
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Yu-Chiau
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Shyu
authors.forename: Ting-Shuo
authors.initials: TS
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: Ling
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Yeung
authors.forename: Chi-Chin
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.forename: Huang-Yu
authors.initials: HY
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: I-Wen
authors.initials: IW
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015897:Comorbidity; D005260:Female; D015438:Health Behavior; D006801:Humans; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000150:complications*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D051436:Renal Insufficiency, Chronic / Q000150:complications*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology