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Increased risk of ischemic heart disease among subjects with cataracts: A population-based cohort study

Wei-Syun Hu1, Cheng-Li Lin, Shih-Sheng Chang

  • 1School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine Management Office for Health Data, China Medical University Hospital Graduate Institute of Clinical Medical Science, China Medical University Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.

Medicine
|July 19, 2016
PubMed

Insights

Individuals with cataracts face a higher risk of developing ischemic heart disease (IHD). Cataract surgery may also be linked to an increased IHD risk, warranting further investigation.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cardiology
  • Public Health

Background:

  • The relationship between cataract and ischemic heart disease (IHD) risk is not fully understood.
  • Existing research has not definitively established a causal link or quantified the risk.
  • Further investigation is needed to clarify this association.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the association between cataract and the risk of incident ischemic heart disease (IHD).
  • To investigate the subsequent IHD risk in patients with cataracts who undergo cataract surgery.

Main Methods:

  • Retrospective analysis of the Longitudinal Health Insurance Database 2000 (LHID2000).
  • Comparison of a cataract cohort (n=32,456) with a non-cataract cohort (n=32,456) from 2000-2010.
  • Cox proportional hazards regression used to determine hazard ratios for IHD.

Main Results:

  • Patients with cataracts had a 35% higher risk of IHD (aHR=1.35, P<0.001) compared to those without cataracts.
  • Incidence rates of IHD were 24.2 per 1000 person-years in the cataract group vs. 18.2 in the non-cataract group.
  • Cataract surgery was associated with a 7% increased IHD risk (aHR=1.07, P<0.05) compared to non-surgical cataract patients.

Conclusions:

  • Cataract is a significant risk factor for the development of ischemic heart disease.
  • Patients with cataracts exhibit an elevated risk of subsequent IHD.
  • The findings suggest a need for increased cardiovascular monitoring in cataract patients, particularly those undergoing surgery.
Abstract

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