The Incidence of Glaucoma in Young Adult Glaucoma Suspects

This study aims to determine the incidence of glaucoma in glaucoma suspects under age 40 who were followed over a 13-year period within a healthcare system.

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using healthcare claims from the U.S. Military Health System Data Repository between fiscal years 2006 and 2007. The study identified 9,783 military health system beneficiaries aged 18-39 diagnosed as glaucoma suspects. Patients were then followed for 13 years. The primary outcome investigated the incidence of glaucoma. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to assess demographic risk factors for glaucoma. Secondary outcomes compared mean differences in follow-up visits by demographic factors using a multivariable N-Way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni test.

8.9% (872) of glaucoma suspects developed glaucoma within 13 years. When compared to White patients, Black patients had a higher risk of developing glaucoma (aOR = 2.38, CI 2.00-2.82). Patients aged 25-29 had a lower risk of glaucoma (aOR = 0.54, CI 0.43-0.67) than patients aged 30-39. Patients had an average of 7.11 follow-up visits. Significant differences were found between follow-up visits by race (F(4) = [6.0], p = <.0001), sponsor status (F(1) = [12.39], p = <.0001, patient sex (F(1) = [11.30], p = <.0008), and rank (F(4) = [14.28], p = <.0001).

The incidence of glaucoma was 8.9% in young adult glaucoma suspects who were followed over a 13-year period within a single healthcare system. Additional research is needed to determine evidence-based, cost-effective monitoring protocols for adults diagnosed with suspect glaucoma.