Systemic diseases and their association with open-angle glaucoma in the population of Stockholm.

OBJECTIVE

We aimed to study open-angle glaucoma in association with somatic comorbidities in the total population of adults in Region Stockholm.

METHODS

The study population included all living persons aged 19 years and above who resided in Stockholm County, Sweden, on 1 January 2017 (N = 1 703 675). Subjects with specified diseases were identified with data from all registered consultations and hospital stays during 2008-2019. As outcome, the risk of being associated with a diagnosis of open-angle glaucoma was identified during 2012-2018. Analyses were performed by gender, controlling for age and socio-economic status. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for women and men with open-angle glaucoma, using individuals without this as referents, were calculated. Socio-economic status was assessed based on the neighbourhood the subjects lived in.

RESULTS

In total, 16,299 cases of open-angle glaucoma were identified during 2012-2018, 9204 women and 7095 men. Higher fully adjusted OR (95% CI) for risk of being associated with open-angle glaucoma was for women and men with diabetes 1.138 (1.074-1.207) and 1.216 (1.148-1.289), cancer 1.175 (1.120-1.233) and 1.106 (1.048-1.166), hypertension 1.372 (1.306-1.440) and 1.243 (1.179-1.311); and for women with thyroid diseases 1.086 (1.030-1.146), chronic lung diseases 1.153 (1.093-1.216), and inflammatory arthropathies 1.132 (1.006-1.275). Higher glaucoma incidence was observed in individuals residing in high socio-economic status neighbourhoods.

CONCLUSION

The risk of glaucoma is increased in some somatic diseases, especially in individuals with diabetes, hypertension and cancer; and in higher socio-economic neighbourhoods as compared to lower socio-economic neighbourhoods.