Risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma in South Korea: the Namil study

To investigate the risk factors for primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) in the Namil study population.

A cross-sectional, population-based epidemiological study of residents aged ≥40 years from Namil-myon, South Korea, was conducted. Fifty-five subjects with POAG and 1,409 controls were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify ocular and systemic factors associated with POAG.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that older age, a history of thyroid disease and higher IOP were associated with an increased risk of POAG. Subgroup analysis showed that older age (OR 1.033, 95 % CI 1.003-1.063 per year), a history of thyroid disease (OR 7.373, 95 % CI 1.407-38.636) and higher IOP (OR 1.132, 95 % CI 1.011-1.268 per mmHg) were risk factors for normal tension glaucoma (NTG, POAG with IOP ≤21 mmHg).

In the Namil study, higher IOP, older age and a history of thyroid disease were significant risk factors for POAG.