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Researchers identify systemic conditions linked to glaucoma-related mortality

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Systemic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, neurodegenerative disorders and respiratory disease appear to be common among mortality rates of glaucoma patients, a large study found. In addition, the investigators identified a slight association between accidents and glaucoma.

In order to determine causative factors for glaucoma-related mortality, Jonathan R. Bennion, MPH, and colleagues evaluated demographic data and comorbidities from medical records obtained for 15,228 glaucoma-related deaths in the United States between 1990 and 2003. These medical records were then combined with U.S. Census Bureau population data to determine mortality rates for each year for the duration of the study.

These 15,228 glaucoma-related deaths comprised 0.05% of the 32.4 million deaths that occurred in the United States during this time period, the authors noted.

The investigators found that the most glaucoma-related deaths occurred among white subjects, female subjects and subjects older than 85 years of age.

The highest annual glaucoma-related mortality rate was found among black men, with 9.4 deaths per 1 million; the lowest glaucoma-related mortality rate was found among Hispanic women, with 1.8 deaths per 1 million, according to the study.

"The disparities in mortality rates observed among race/ethnic strata may be attributed to differences in access to care as well as true differences in disease incidence and/or severity among racial groups," the authors said.

After adjusting for age, sex, race and ethnicity, the investigators identified positive associations between glaucoma and hypertension (odds ratio 4.89), diabetes (odds ratio 2.60), asthma (odds ratio 3.14) and accidents of all types (odds ratio 1.45).

However, due to the potential for errors in death certificate data, including the incorrect reporting of race or ethnicity, as well as limited access to information concerning the chronologic incidence of conditions, the authors concluded that further research into glaucoma-related mortality is warranted.

The study is published in the September issue of Journal of Glaucoma.