Adult body height and age-related macular degeneration in healthy individuals: A nationwide population-based survey from Korea.

In Cheol Hwang,Joon Mo Kim,Quan Dong Nguyen,Jung Min Lee,Jeong Hun Bae,Der-Chong Tsai

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0232593

Abstract

We sought to evaluate the relationship between adult body height and risk of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among healthy Koreans using nationwide population-based data. We analyzed data derived from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2011. Participants over 40 years of age were included in the sample after excluding individuals with systemic comorbidities or missing relevant data. The presence and severity of AMD were graded using fundus photographs. The relationship between body height and risk of AMD was determined using multiple logistic regression analyses. Among a total of 8,435 participants, 544 (6.45%) had AMD: 502 (5.95%) with early AMD and 42 (0.5%) with late AMD. In multivariate-adjusted analyses, taller body height was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of AMD (odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.81–0.99), while body mass index (BMI) was not associated with AMD. An inverse association between body height and risk of AMD was observed most frequently in participants under 65 years of age (OR, 0.81; 95% CI, 0.70–0.94). Furthermore, body height showed an inverse association with risk of AMD among obese participants (BMI ≥25.0 kg/m2) (OR, 0.75; 95% CI, 0.60–0.93). Subgroup analysis by AMD type disclosed a significant inverse association between body height and early AMD (OR, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.79–0.97) but not late AMD. Our results suggest that shorter body height is independently associated with increased risk of AMD, especially early AMD, in a dose-response manner in people who are obese or under 65 years of age.

Highlights

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness worldwide, affecting primarily those 40 years of age or older in developed countries [1]
Efforts are under way to determine risk factors for age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and several studies have suggested that anthropometric factors such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference play roles in the development of AMD
Participants with shorter body height had a significant risk of early AMD, but not for late AMD

Summary

Introduction

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a major cause of blindness worldwide, affecting primarily those 40 years of age or older in developed countries [1]. Body height and age-related macular degeneration of the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and photoreceptors or choroidal neovascularization, which can lead to severe vision loss [1]. Studies to identify risk factors for AMD are important to prevent the development and progression of this intractable disease. Efforts are under way to determine risk factors for AMD, and several studies have suggested that anthropometric factors such as body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference play roles in the development of AMD. BMI does not represent all aspects of obesity [8], and is considered a proxy of current physical condition, whereas body height, an element in BMI calculation, is determined by interactions among genetic predisposition, nutritional status, and socioeconomic environment during childhood and adolescence. Body height may be a good anthropometric indicator reflecting both genetic and environmental influences on certain conditions

Methods

Results

Conclusion