Five-Year Incidence of Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Its Risk Factors in Adult Chinese Population: The Tongren Health Care Study.

PURPOSE

To examine the 5-year incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and its associated factors in an adult Chinese population.

METHODS

The Tongren Health Care Study included individuals attending regular health care check-up examinations in the Beijing Tongren Hospital. Baseline examinations were performed from 2014 to 2015, with 5-year follow-up examinations conducted between 2019 and 2020. Fundus photographs were graded according to the Beckman Initiative guidelines.

RESULTS

A total of 5658 participants with gradable photographs at both examinations were included in the study, comprising 58.0% women, with a mean age of 54.9 ± 11.0 years. The 5-year incidence of any, early, intermediate, and late AMD were 6.1% (95% confidence interval [CI], 5.5%-6.8%), 5.0% (95% CI, 4.4%-5.6%), 3.4% (95% CI, 2.9%-3.9%), and 0.3% (95% CI, 0.2%-0.4%), respectively. In multivariate analysis, incident early AMD was associated with older age (P < 0.001; odds ratio [OR], 1.04; 95% CI, 1.02-1.06), female sex (P = 0.011; OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 1.08-1.86), and a higher estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.020; OR, 1.15; 95% CI, 1.02-1.30), whereas having diabetes was a protective factor (P = 0.019; OR, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.41-0.92). Incident intermediate AMD was associated with older age (P < 0.001; OR, 1.05; 95% CI, 1.04-1.07), a higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level (P < 0.001; OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.38-2.83) and a lower triglyceride level (P = 0.008; OR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.64-0.93).

CONCLUSIONS

A higher estimated glomerular filtration rate level was a risk factor for incident early AMD. A higher high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and lower triglyceride level were risk factors for incident intermediate AMD. This finding may point to the role of renal circulation and lipid metabolism in incident AMD.

TRANSLATIONAL RELEVANCE

This community-based longitudinal study may provide a valuable understanding of AMD and its associated factors for targeted prevention and management strategies.