Investigating the Causal Relationship Between Sleep Behaviors and Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma: A Bidirectional...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Genetics
• Sleep Science

Background:

• Primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) is a leading cause of irreversible blindness.
• Previous research suggests a link between sleep behaviors and POAG, but the causal relationship is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the causal relationships between genetically predicted sleep traits and POAG.
• To utilize a two-sample bidirectional Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to assess these associations.

Main Methods:

• Employed summary-level data from genome-wide association studies (GWAS) of European ancestry.
• Selected independent single-nucleotide polymorphisms for eight sleep behaviors and POAG as genetic instruments.
• Utilized inverse-variance weighted (IVW) and multivariable MR (MVMR) methods, with sensitivity analyses for robustness.

Main Results:

• Genetically predicted ease of getting up in the morning and longer sleep duration were positively associated with an increased risk of POAG (OR=1.78, P=4.33×10⁻⁴; OR=1.66, P=3.38×10⁻³).
• These associations remained significant after adjusting for confounding factors like BMI and smoking in MVMR analyses.
• No significant causal relationship was found between genetic liability for POAG and sleep behaviors in the reverse direction.

Conclusions:

• Genetic predisposition to waking up easily and longer sleep duration are associated with a higher risk of POAG in European populations.
• The findings suggest a potential unidirectional causal effect from specific sleep traits to POAG risk.
• Further research and clinical interventions are warranted to explore preventative strategies for POAG based on sleep patterns.