Abstract
PurposeTo identify risk factors for cataracts treated surgically in postmenopausal women.DesignPopulation-based, prospective cohort study.ParticipantsA total of 1 312 051 postmenopausal women in the UK Million Women Study, aged 56 years on average (standard deviation [SD], 4.8), without previous cataract surgery, hospital admission with cataracts, or cancer at baseline, were followed for cataracts treated surgically.MethodsCox regression was used to calculate adjusted relative risks (RRs) for cataract surgery by lifestyle factors, treatment for diabetes, reproductive history, and use of hormonal therapies.Main Outcome MeasuresCataract surgery identified by linkage to central National Health Service (NHS) records for inpatient and day-patient admissions (Hospital Episode Statistics for England and Scottish Morbidity Records in Scotland).ResultsOverall, 89 343 women underwent cataract surgery during an average of 11 (SD, 3) years of follow-up. Women with diabetes were at greatest risk (diabetes vs. no diabetes RR, 2.90; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.82–2.97). Other factors associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery were current smoking (current smokers of ≥15 cigarettes/day vs. never smokers RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.23–1.30) and obesity (body mass index [BMI] ≥30 vs. <25 kg/m2; RR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.10–1.14).ConclusionsDiabetes, smoking, and obesity were risk factors for cataract surgery. Alcohol use, physical activity, reproductive history, and use of hormonal therapies had little, if any, association with cataract surgery risk.
Highlights
To identify risk factors for cataracts treated surgically in postmenopausal women
2% (31 612) of the women in the study population reported being treated for diabetes, and this was the strongest risk factor for cataracts treated surgically
Both past and current smoking at recruitment were associated with increased risk of cataracts treated surgically, with multiply adjusted relative risks (RRs) compared with never smokers of 1.10 in past smokers, 1.12 in current smokers of less than 15 cigarettes per day, and 1.26 in current smokers of 15 or more cigarettes per day
Summary
To identify risk factors for cataracts treated surgically in postmenopausal women. Physical activity, reproductive history, and use of hormonal therapies had little, if any, association with cataract surgery risk. The most important risk factor for cataract formation is age.[2] Other risk factors that have been identified are diabetes, smoking, ultraviolet (UV) light, and steroid use,2e7 but there is less evidence on the role of factors such as body mass index (BMI), physical activity, reproductive history, use of hormonal therapies, and alcohol consumption.4,8e11. Cataracts and reproductive and hormonal factors, including use of hormone therapy (HT) for menopause, is limited and inconsistent.[4,16,17]
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