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Interventional cardiologists at high risk for cataracts
Interventional cardiologists and other staff exposed to ionizing radiation are more prone to developing cataract, according to data published in Catheterization and Cardiovascular Interventions.
In a meta-analysis of eight studies, Ahmed Elmaraezy, MD, from the faculty of medicine at Al-Azhar University, Cairo, and colleagues analyzed data from 2,559 participants. Of these, 1,224 interventional cardiologists were exposed to radiation and 1,335 were controls who were not exposed to radiation.
In the study, the pooled overall prevalence of posterior lens opacity was 33.4% and the overall prevalence of any lens opacity was 36% among interventional cardiologists.
The researchers found that the risk for posterior lens opacity was approximately threefold higher among interventional cardiologists exposed to radiation compared with those who were not (RR = 3.21; 95% CI, 2.14-4.83). However, neither the risk for cortical opacity (RR = 0.69; 95% CI, 0.46-1.06) nor nuclear opacity (RR = 0.85; 95% CI, 0.71-1.02) was significantly different for the group exposed to radiation vs. the control group.
Overall, the risk for any lens opacity was higher among interventional cardiologists exposed to radiation, but the finding did not reach statistical significance (RR = 2.61; 95% CI, 0.68-10), according to the data. Moreover, the researchers noted significant heterogeneity among the four studies comparing the risk for any lens opacity among interventional cardiologists exposed to radiation with controls.
Duration of work in the cath lab and the use of protective lead eyeglasses appeared to play a role in cataract development, the researchers reported. Interventional cardiologists who performed cardiac catheterization for more than 25 years had a higher likelihood of developing lens opacities (adjusted OR = 5.94; 95% CI, 1.08-36.62), as did those who wore protective eyeglasses less than 75% of the time (aOR = 3.87; 95% CI, 1.28-11.68).
Results from a subgroup analysis demonstrated a nonsignificant increase in risk for posterior subcapsular cataract between interventional cardiologists exposed to a cumulative radiation dose of at least 1 Sv vs. less than 1 Sv (RR = 1.26; 95% CI, 0.86-1.86). The researchers noted, however, that the nonsignificant difference in risk differs from evidence linking radiation dose and cataract risk and the data are limited by the small sample size.
In an exploratory analysis, the risk for posterior subcapsular cataract was also higher among nurses and technical workers exposed to radiation (RR = 2.76; 95% CI, 1.43-5.31).
“[I]nterventional cardiologists and accompanying technical staff exposed to occupational ionizing radiation are more susceptible to cataract than unexposed controls. Using radiation protective measures is a must and further investigations are recommended for determining the threshold dose of radiation,” the researchers wrote. – by Melissa Foster
Disclosures: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.