Associations of age-related macular degeneration and statin use: a cross-sectional analysis

To examine the association between self-reported, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), statin use, and sociodemographic factors in a nationally representative sample of U.S. adults.

Cross-sectional study using 2023 National Health Interview Survey data.

Analyses were restricted to adults aged 50 years and older. The descriptive sample included 16,924 participants, and 7 566 participants with complete covariate data were included in the multivariable analysis. The primary outcome was self-reported AMD. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression models assessed associations between AMD, statin use, and sociodemographic and health-related variables using complex survey weighting.

The descriptive sample included 16,924 adults aged 50 years and older; 55.41% were female, and 73.52% were non-Hispanic White. In adjusted analysis, statin use was not significantly associated with self-reported AMD (OR: 0.88, 95% CI: 0.66-1.18; p = .401). Older age, female sex, unemployment, and fair self-reported health were associated with higher odds of self-reported AMD, whereas Hispanic ethnicity was associated with lower odds of self-reported AMD.

Statin use was not independently associated with self-reported AMD after adjustment. Self-reported AMD was associated with older age, female sex, unemployment, and fair self-reported health, and with lower odds among Hispanic participants.