Dietary patterns were not associated with age-related macular degeneration: a cross-sectional analysis in the Irish Nun Eye Study

ABSTRACT Background The majority of research performed to date has examined the effects of commonly known antioxidants such as vitamins C, E, and A and carotenoids on age-related macular degeneration (AMD) risk and progression. To date, there is limited research on promising phytochemicals with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, including flavonoids. Objective In this exploratory study, we aimed to assess the independent associations between dietary intake of total flavonoids and common flavonoid classes with the prevalence and 15-y incidence of AMD. Design In this population-based cohort study, 2856 adults aged ≥49 y at baseline and 2037 followed up 15 y later were included in prevalence and incidence analyses, respectively. Dietary intake was assessed by using a semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Estimates of the flavonoid content of foods in the FFQ were assessed by using the USDA Flavonoid, Isoflavone, and Proanthocyanidin databases. AMD was assessed from retinal photographs. Results In cross-sectional analysis, each 1-SD increase in total overall flavonoid intake was associated with a reduced likelihood of any AMD (multivariable-adjusted OR: 0.76; 95% CI: 0.58, 0.99). Each 1-SD increase in dietary intake of total flavonols and total flavanones was associated with reduced odds of the prevalence of any AMD [multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI): 0.75 (0.58, 0.97) and 0.77 (0.60, 0.99), respectively]. A marginally significant trend (P = 0.05) was observed between increasing the intake of total flavanone and hesperidin (from the first to the fourth quartile) and reduced likelihood of incident late AMD, after multivariable adjustment. Participants who reported ≥1 serving of oranges/d compared with those who never consumed oranges at baseline had a reduced risk of late AMD 15 y later (multivariable-adjusted OR: 0.39; 95% CI: 0.18, 0.85). Conclusions Our findings suggest an independent and protective association between dietary intake of flavonoids and the likelihood of having AMD. Additional prospective cohort studies are needed to validate these findings.

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Patient Use of Dietary Supplements, Home Monitoring, or Genetic Testing for Nonneovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Journal of VitreoRetinal Diseases ◽

10.1177/2474126421989228 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 247412642198922

Author(s):

Brittany C. Tsou ◽

T.Y. Alvin Liu ◽

Jun Kong ◽

Susan B. Bressler ◽

J. Fernando Arevalo ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Genetic Testing ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Dietary Supplements ◽

Home Monitoring ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Supplement Use ◽

Age Related ◽

Disease Study

Purpose: This work evaluated the use and type of dietary supplements and home monitoring for nonneovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD), as well as the prevalence of genetic testing among patients with AMD. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted of 129 participants older than 50 years who completed self-administered questionnaires regarding usage and type of dietary supplements and home monitoring, as well as the participants’ use of genetic testing for AMD. Results: Of 91 participants with AMD, 83 (91.2%) took vitamins, including 55 (60.4%) who used an Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) or AREDS2 formulation. Of 38 without AMD, 31 (81.6%) took vitamins (difference from participants with AMD = 9.6% [95% CI, 0%-23.2%]), including 2 on an AREDS formulation. Among 82 participants with AMD who were AREDS candidates (intermediate or advanced AMD in 1 or both eyes), 51 (62.2%; 95% CI, 51.7%-72.7%) took an AREDS or AREDS2 formulation, and 31 (37.8%) did not (5 were unsure). Additionally, 50 (61.0%; 95% CI, 50.4%-71.6%) AREDS candidates did some type of home monitoring. Only 1 (1.2%; 95% CI, 0%-3.6%) underwent genetic testing for AMD. Among 9 with AMD who were not AREDS candidates, 4 (44.4%) used an AREDS formulation, 4 (44.4%) did not, and 1 (11.1%) was unsure; only 1 (11.1%) of these 9 performed home monitoring. Conclusions: Despite similar results from past surveys and AREDS2 data supporting supplement use in 2013 and home monitoring in 2014, these findings suggest about one-third of AREDS candidates do not do so, providing further support for improving education regarding appropriate supplement and home monitoring usage. Genetic testing for AMD also appears infrequent.

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Association of Human Plasma Metabolomics with Delayed Dark Adaptation in Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Metabolites ◽

10.3390/metabo11030183 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 11 (3) ◽

pp. 183

Author(s):

Kevin M Mendez ◽

Janice Kim ◽

Inês Laíns ◽

Archana Nigalye ◽

Raviv Katz ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Amino Acids ◽

Fatty Acid ◽

Macular Degeneration ◽

Dark Adaptation ◽

Ultra Performance Liquid Chromatography ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Age Related ◽

Vitreoretinal Disease

The purpose of this study was to analyze the association between plasma metabolite levels and dark adaptation (DA) in age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This was a cross-sectional study including patients with AMD (early, intermediate, and late) and control subjects older than 50 years without any vitreoretinal disease. Fasting blood samples were collected and used for metabolomic profiling with ultra-performance liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Patients were also tested with the AdaptDx (MacuLogix, Middletown, PA, USA) DA extended protocol (20 min). Two measures of dark adaptation were calculated and used: rod-intercept time (RIT) and area under the dark adaptation curve (AUDAC). Associations between dark adaption and metabolite levels were tested using multilevel mixed-effects linear modelling, adjusting for age, gender, body mass index (BMI), smoking, race, AMD stage, and Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) formulation supplementation. We included a total of 71 subjects: 53 with AMD (13 early AMD, 31 intermediate AMD, and 9 late AMD) and 18 controls. Our results revealed that fatty acid-related lipids and amino acids related to glutamate and leucine, isoleucine and valine metabolism were associated with RIT (p < 0.01). Similar results were found when AUDAC was used as the outcome. Fatty acid-related lipids and amino acids are associated with DA, thus suggesting that oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction likely play a role in AMD and visual impairment in this condition.

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Private groundwater management and risk awareness: A cross-sectional analysis of two age-related subsets in the Republic of Ireland

The Science of The Total Environment ◽

10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.148844 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 148844

Author(s):

S. Mooney ◽

J. O'Dwyer ◽

P.D. Hynds

Keyword(s):

Groundwater Management ◽

Risk Awareness ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Republic Of Ireland ◽

Cross Sectional Analysis ◽

Age Related ◽

The Republic ◽

Sectional Analysis

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Cross-sectional study of the association between age-related macular degeneration and arthritis in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005–2008

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2019-035805 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

pp. e035805

Author(s):

Zhuoting Zhu ◽

Huan Liao ◽

Sen Liu ◽

Jian Zhang ◽

Yifan Chen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

National Health ◽

Logistic Models ◽

Cross Sectional Study ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Nutrition Examination Survey ◽

Sectional Study ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Health And Nutrition ◽

Age Related

ObjectiveTo explore the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and arthritis in a representative sample of the US population.DesignPopulation-based, cross-sectional study.SettingThe National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005–2008.ParticipantsA total of 4813 participants aged 40 years and older with available information on AMD and arthritis in the 2005–2008 NHANES.MethodsThe status and types of arthritis were obtained from questionnaires. Non-mydriatic fundus photographs were collected. The types of AMD were assessed using the modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading Classification Scheme. The association between arthritis and AMD was evaluated using logistic regression models.ResultsAfter adjusting for covariates, participants with any or early AMD had significantly lower odds of having any type of arthritis (any AMD: OR=0.56, 95% CI: 0.36–0.86; early AMD: OR=0.55, 95% CI: 0.34–0.88) or osteoarthritis (OA) (any AMD: OR=0.43, 95% CI: 0.26–0.71; early AMD: OR=0.44, 95% CI: 0.25–0.76) compared with those without AMD. When considering AMD as the outcome, significant negative associations were also found between any arthritis or OA and any (any arthritis: OR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.43–0.94; OA: OR=0.52, 95% CI: 0.33–0.82) or early AMD (any arthritis: OR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.40–0.93; OA: OR=0.51, 95% CI: 0.31–0.86) in the multivariable logistic models. There was no significant association between different types of arthritis and late AMD.ConclusionsPeople with arthritis, especially those with OA, were less likely to have AMD compared with those without arthritis and vice versa. Further studies are needed to confirm this potential protective effect of arthritis and/or arthritis treatment on AMD and to explore the underlying mechanisms.

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Healthcare Cost of Stargardt Disease

10.1101/2020.01.22.20017962 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Kanza Aziz ◽

Bonnielin K. Swenor ◽

Joseph K. Canner ◽

Mandeep S. Singh

Keyword(s):

Macular Degeneration ◽

Healthcare Cost ◽

Financial Burden ◽

Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽

Administrative Claims ◽

Direct Healthcare Cost ◽

Stargardt Disease ◽

Cross Sectional ◽

Patient Cost ◽

Age Related

AbstractImportanceStargardt disease (SD) is the most common juvenile macular degeneration and a leading cause of uncorrectable childhood blindness. The progressive and incurable nature of this chronic condition entails a long-term financial burden on affected individuals. The economic costs of SD have not been characterized in detail.ObjectiveTo estimate the direct healthcare cost of SD.DesignCross-sectional analysis of healthcare claims.ParticipantsPatients with an ICD-9 diagnosis code of SD, non-exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD), or bilateral sensorineural hearing loss (SHL).MethodsOutpatient administrative claims data from the IBM® MarketScan® Commercial Claims and Encounters Database from 2010 to 2014 were analyzed.Main Outcome MeasureAnnual per-patient direct healthcare cost.ResultsA total of 472,428 patients were analyzed (5,015 SD, 369,750 SHL and 97,663 AMD patients respectively). The payment per year of insurance coverage for SD (median: $105.58, IQR: $50.53-$218.71) was higher than that of SHL (median: $51.01, IQR: $25.66-$121.66, p <0.001) and AMD (median: $76.20, IQR: $38.00-$164.86, p <0.001). When adjusted for covariates, the annual payment for SD was $47.83 higher than SHL (p<0.001) and $17.34 higher than AMD (p<0.001).Conclusions and RelevanceThere is a significant direct healthcare cost associated with SD. The annual per-patient cost of SD was higher than SHL, another condition that causes sensory impairment in people of all ages, and nonexudative AMD which causes a similar pattern of visual loss that typically begins later in life. The total lifetime per-patient cost of SD may exceed that of nonexudative AMD.

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