Prevalence and Associations of Epiretinal Membrane by OCT in a Japanese Population-Based Cohort: Tohoku Medical Megabank Organization Eye Study.

PURPOSE

To examine the prevalence of epiretinal membrane (ERM) according to the OCT-based severity scales, and to describe associations focusing on the impact of smoking and axial length of the globe.

DESIGN

Cross-sectional study.

PARTICIPANTS

The baseline examination cohort comprised participants from the Tohoku Medical Megabank community cohort recruited from 2013 to 2017.

METHODS

In total, 38 118 eyes of 19 486 participants were classified with ERM staging. The characteristics of ERM severity were analyzed, and the association between the prevalence of ERM and ocular and systemic parameters was investigated using logistic regression models. Cubic spline models were constructed to visualize the relationships with lifetime smoking exposure and axial lengths. Regarding ERM severity, the associations between stage 1 and stage 2 or more were analyzed with multivariate analysis.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Epiretinal membrane prevalence at each stage determined via OCT and factors associated with ERM presence and severity.

RESULTS

The prevalence of ERM was 2.3% per eye (3.6% per person), with a predominance at stage 1. The presence of severe ERM stages was higher in older individuals. The multivariate logistic analysis revealed that older age, female sex, and long axial length were associated with a higher prevalence of ERM. In a multivariate analysis stratified by sex, glaucoma was also identified as a significant factor associated with the prevalence of ERM in women. In the cubic spline model, no consistent trend was observed between smoking and ERM prevalence. However, a U-shaped relationship was indicated between axial length and ERM prevalence. Epiretinal membrane severity highlighted older age, alcohol consumption, and very long axial length as significantly associated compared with stage 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Epiretinal membrane prevalence was significantly associated with older age, female sex, and long axial length.

FINANCIAL DISCLOSURES

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.