Oral Ursodeoxycholic Acid Is Associated With Decreased Rate of AMD

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Cholelithiasis (gallstones) is linked to a reduced risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
• Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a bile acid used for gallstone dissolution, demonstrates retina-protective properties in preclinical models.
• The potential of UDCA to prevent AMD warrants investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between UDCA use and the risk of developing AMD in patients with gallbladder disease.
• To evaluate if UDCA confers a protective effect against AMD progression.

Main Methods:

• A retrospective cohort study analyzed data from 2000-2022.
• Patients with gallbladder disease (cholelithiasis, cholecystitis, or cholecystectomy) were divided into UDCA users and non-users (controls).
• Propensity score matching and Cox regression with inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) were employed to control for confounding factors.

Main Results:

• The study included 5,863 UDCA users and 17,164 matched controls, all aged 55+ with no prior AMD history.
• UDCA use was associated with a significantly lower incidence of AMD (6.74% vs. 9.00%).
• An adjusted hazard ratio of 0.65 (95% CI: 0.58-0.74, P < 0.0001) indicated a 35% reduction in AMD hazard with UDCA use.

Conclusions:

• UDCA is associated with a substantial reduction in AMD risk among individuals with gallbladder disease.
• Further research into the mechanistic pathways underlying UDCA's protective effect is recommended.
• Clinical trials assessing UDCA for AMD prevention or treatment are warranted.