Smoking and neovascular form of age related macular degeneration in late middle aged males: findings from a case-control study in Japan

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 81; no. 10; pp. 901 - 904
• Main Authors: Tamakoshi, Akiko, Yuzawa, Mitsuko, Matsui, Mizuo, Uyama, Masanobu, Fujiwara, Nakako Kubo, Ohno, Yoshiyuki
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ 01.10.1997; BMJ Publishing Group LTD
• Subjects: Age; Antioxidants; Biological and medical sciences; Cigarettes; Confidence intervals; Hospitals; Macular degeneration; Medical personnel; Medical sciences; Ophthalmology; Original articles - Clinical science; Oxidative stress; Retinopathies; Smoking; Studies; Asia; Japan; Human; Retinopathy; Middle age; Tobacco smoking; Male; Maculopathy; Case control study; Macula; Eye disease; Risk factor; Adult; Degeneration; Public health; Age
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjo.81.10.901

AIMS The risk of smoking habits for developing the neovascular form of age related macular degeneration (neovascular form of AMD) were studied by a case-control study in Japan. METHODS 56 male patients with the neovascular form of AMD and 82 healthy male controls, aged 50 to 69 years, were enrolled. A self administered questionnaire provided necessary information for the study subjects. Questions on smoking included whether the study subjects have ever smoked or not, and if smoked, depth of smoke inhalation, use of extra filter, age at starting smoking, average number of cigarettes smoked per day, and duration of smoking. When a smoker had stopped smoking, age at cessation was also recorded. Unconditional logistic analysis was adapted to calculate age adjusted odds ratios and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for smoking related factors. RESULTS Age adjusted odds ratio of developing the neovascular form of AMD was 2.97 (95% CI 1.00–8.84) for current smokers and 2.09 (0.71–6.13) for ex smokers, compared with non-smokers. All smoking habit/smoking history related variables such as use of extra filter, smoke inhalation level, age at starting smoking, duration of smoking, and Brinkman index were found to be significantly related to an increased risk of the neovascular form of AMD. CONCLUSIONS Suggested is the strong possibility that cigarette smoking enhances the neovascular form of AMD risk in late middle aged males, though the magnitude of risk by smoking variables might be overestimated, in part, because of health oriented controls.