INCREASING SLEEP DURATION IS ASSOCIATED WITH GEOGRAPHIC ATROPHY AND AGE-RELATED MACULAR DEGENERATION

Sleeping too much or too little has been associated with adverse health outcomes including total mortality, cardiovascular disease, Type 2 diabetes, and hypertension. This study explored the relationship between sleep patterns and age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

One thousand and three consecutive patients in a retina practice were prospectively surveyed regarding sleep histories. Each patient then had a masked ophthalmic examination and was graded on the modified Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy System. The relationship between AMD grade and sleep hours was analyzed in a logistic regression model. Multivariable analysis was performed after adjustment for age, gender, and smoking history.

In multivariable analysis, controlling for age, gender, and smoking history, sleep hours are not associated with neovascular AMD (P = 0.97) but are associated with geographic atrophy (P = 0.02). Sleeping >8 hours is associated with geographic atrophy (age-adjusted odds ratio, 7.09; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-31.6) compared with patients without AMD.

Longer sleep duration is associated with geographic atrophy secondary to AMD. These altered sleep patterns may be another morbidity of AMD, but further study is necessary.