Relationship Between Open-angle Glaucoma and Stroke: A 2010 to 2012 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

To determine the relationship between open-angle glaucoma (OAG) and stroke in the Korean population.

This study was a population-based, cross-sectional study that used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a complex, stratified, multistage, probability-cluster survey. We analyzed a total of 11,959 participants who were above 40 years old and were included in the fifth KNHANES database (2010 to 2012 data). Weighted prevalence of OAG and stroke in various populations were estimated. Univariate and multivariate logistic regressions were performed to examine potential risk factors for stroke, including OAG. Multivariate adjusted odds ratios (OR) for stroke were examined in subjects with and without OAG. Subjects were also examined by hypertension and diabetes status.

Stroke patients had a significantly higher OAG prevalence (8.5%) than nonstroke patients (3.8%; P<0.001). After adjusting for selected risk factors, the presence of OAG tended to be associated with stroke (adjusted OR=1.629), but this result was not statistically significant (P=0.053). Stroke and OAG were significantly associated with each other in subjects with hypertension (OR=2.059; P=0.010) and diabetes (OR=2.649; P=0.040). In addition, the associations of stroke and other systemic diseases were stronger when OAG was a comorbid condition.

Although there was no overall statistical significance, patients with OAG had an increased risk of stroke, among those with systemic comorbidities, including hypertension and diabetes. Our results may provide insight on the underlying mechanisms of OAG and their association with stroke development.