Association with Systemic and Ophthalmic Disease in Korean Pseudoexfoliation Syndrome Patients

Abstract

Purpose: To analyze the association of systemic and ophthalmic disease in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the records of 207 patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome and 201 age-matched controls without pseudoexfoliation syndrome seen from January 2016 to January 2021. Age, sex, systemic diseases such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease, and ocular disease including retinal vascular occlusion, age-related macular degeneration (AMD), glaucoma, cataract surgery rate, complications related to cataract surgery, and ocular characteristics were compared. Factors associated with pseudoexfoliation syndrome were analyzed using logistic regression.Results: The frequencies of diabetes mellitus, hypertension, AMD, glaucoma, a history of cataract surgery, and complications related to cataract surgery were significantly higher in patients with pseudoexfoliation syndrome (all <i>Ps</i> ≤ 0.049). The pseudoexfoliation syndrome group had a significantly thinner global retinal nerve fiber layer, worse mean deviation and pattern standard deviation, and smaller dilated pupil size than the controls (all <i>Ps</i> < 0.001). In univariate and multivariate logistic regressions, the presence of diabetes mellitus (odds ratio [OR] = 1.613, <i>p</i> = 0.041), AMD (OR = 3.071, <i>p</i> = 0.001), and glaucoma (OR = 17.800, <i>p</i> < 0.001) were associated with pseudoexfoliation syndrome.Conclusions: Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, AMD, and glaucoma were more frequent in pseudoexfoliation syndrome patients. Since pseudoexfoliation syndrome is closely related to AMD and glaucoma, this requires clinical consideration.