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Stress and Allostatic Load in Patients With Primary Open Angle Glaucoma
Kiran Gc1, Karthikeyan Mahalingam, Vivek Gupta
1Dr Rajendra Prasad Centre for Ophthalmic Sciences, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
Journal of Glaucoma
|November 17, 2023
Summary
Primary open angle glaucoma patients show higher allostatic load scores, indicating physiological dysregulation from chronic stress. Managing stress through lifestyle changes may help slow glaucoma progression and improve health.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Physiology
- Stress Research
Background:
- Allostatic load (AL) reflects the cumulative physiological wear and tear from chronic stress.
- Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
- Understanding the relationship between AL and POAG is crucial for comprehensive patient management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate allostatic load in patients diagnosed with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG).
Main Methods:
- A case-control study involving 50 POAG patients and 50 age-matched controls.
- Allostatic load was assessed using 13 biomarkers including blood pressure, lipids, glucose, and cortisol.
- A higher AL score (≥4) indicated significant physiological dysregulation.
Main Results:
- POAG patients exhibited significantly higher mean AL scores (4.68±2.09) compared to controls (3.32±1.34).
- Components like homocysteine, total cholesterol, HDL, and glycosylated hemoglobin were significantly higher in glaucoma patients.
- High AL scores correlated with older age, lower socioeconomic status, and glaucoma severity, and negatively with retinal nerve fiber layer thickness and visual field mean deviation.
Conclusions:
- Glaucoma patients demonstrate allostatic overload, suggesting physiological dysregulation linked to chronic stress.
- A holistic management approach incorporating lifestyle modifications to reduce chronic stress is recommended for POAG patients.
- This approach may aid in potentially slowing disease progression and enhancing overall health outcomes.
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