Related Experiment Video
Updated: Oct 28, 2025
07:11
Assessing Early Stage Open-Angle Glaucoma in Patients by Isolated-Check Visual Evoked Potential
Published on: May 25, 2020
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Gout and open-angle glaucoma risk in a veteran population
Kristin S Biggerstaff1,2,3, Donna L White1,4,5,6, Benjamin J Frankfort3
1Center for Innovations in Quality, Effectiveness and Safety (IQuESt), Michael E. DeBakey Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Houston, TX, USA.
Summary
A history of gout, linked to hyperuricemia, may slightly lower the risk of developing glaucoma. This study in veterans suggests a potential protective effect of gout on ocular neurodegenerative conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Rheumatology
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Gout, a condition of hyperuricemia, is linked to reduced risk of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's.
- The relationship between gout and ocular neurodegenerative conditions, specifically glaucoma, remains under-explored.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between a history of gout and the risk of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or glaucoma suspect.
- To determine if hyperuricemia levels correlate with glaucoma risk.
Main Methods:
- A population-based case-control study utilizing US Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) data from 2000-2015.
- Identified patients with open-angle glaucoma (OAG) or glaucoma suspect using ICD-9 codes.
- Employed incidence density matching for controls and multivariable logistic regression to analyze associations.
Main Results:
- A cohort of over 1.1 million OAG or glaucoma suspect cases and matched controls was analyzed.
- Veterans with a history of gout showed a small, statistically significant decreased risk of OAG (ORadj = 0.985).
- Treated gout also demonstrated a similar small decreased risk (ORadj = 0.963); however, elevated uric acid levels did not show a significant association with OAG risk.
Conclusions:
- Findings suggest a history of gout is associated with a small decreased relative risk of glaucoma in veterans.
- Further prospective research in diverse populations is necessary to validate these results.
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