Risk Factors for Cortical, Nuclear, and Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: The POLA Study

• Published in: American journal of epidemiology Vol. 151; no. 5; pp. 497 - 504
• Main Authors: Delcourt, Cécile, Cristol, Jean-Paul, Tessier, Frédéric, Léger, Claude L., Michel, Françoise, Papoz, Laure
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Cary, NC Oxford University Press 01.03.2000
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; cataract; cortisone; cross-sectional studies; diabetes mellitus; eye diseases; Lens diseases; Medical sciences; Ophthalmology; risk factors; smoking; vitamin A; France; Europe; Endocrinopathy; Human; Corticosteroid; Cataract; Toxicity; Diabetes mellitus; Sex; Tobacco smoking; Epidemiology; Eye disease; Lens disease; Sociodemographic factor; Cross sectional study; Classification; Risk factor; Elderly; Anterior segment disease; Age
• ISSN: 0002-9262; 1476-6256
• DOI: 10.1093/oxfordjournals.aje.a010235

The POLA (Pathologies Oculaires Liées à l'Age) Study is a population-based study of cataract and age-related macular degeneration and their risk factors being carried out among 2,584 residents of Sète, southern France, aged 60–95 years. Recruitment took place between June 1995 and July 1997. Cataract classification was based on a standardized lens examination by slit lamp, according to Lens Opacities Classification System III. This paper presents results obtained from cross-sectional analysis of the first phase of the study. In polytomous logistic regression analyses, an increased risk of cataract was found for female sex (cataract surgery: odds ratio (OR) = 3.03; cortical cataract: OR = 1.67), brown irises (cortical, nuclear, and mixed cataracts: OR = 1.61), smoking (cataract surgery: OR = 2.34 for current smokers and OR = 3.75 for former smokers), known diabetes of 10 or more years' duration (posterior subcapsular, cortical, and mixed cataracts and cataract surgery: OR = 2.72), use of oral corticosteroids for at least 5 years (posterior subcapsular cataract: OR = 3.25), asthma or chronic bronchitis (cataract surgery: OR = 2.04), cancer (posterior subcapsular cataract: OR = 1.92), and cardiovascular disease (cortical cataract: OR = 1.96). Decreased risk of cataract was found with higher education (all types of cataract and cataract surgery: OR = 0.59), hypertension (cataract surgery: OR = 0.57), and high plasma retinol levels (nuclear and mixed cataracts and cataract surgery: OR = 0.75 for a 1-standard-deviation increase). Most of the risk factors identified in this study confirm the findings of other studies. The association of cataract with plasma retinol level requires further investigation. Am J Epidemiol 2000;151:497–504.