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Several risk factors may increase cataract surgery rates in postmenopausal women
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Smoking, diabetes and obesity may increase the risk of cataract surgery in postmenopausal women, according to a study.
The UK Million Women Study included 1,312,051 postmenopausal women who had no previous cataract surgery, hospital admission for cataracts or cancer at baseline.
The women in the population-based prospective cohort study were followed for cataracts treated surgically. The researchers used Cox regression to calculate the adjusted relative risks for cataract surgery in terms of use of hormonal therapies, reproductive history, lifestyle factors and diabetes treatment.
Two percent of women had diabetes, which was the strongest risk factor for cataract surgery. Additionally, both past and current smoking was found to elevate the risk for cataract surgery.
Obesity, with a BMI of 30 kg/m² or greater, was also found to have a small increase in risk of cataracts treated surgically.
“In this large prospective study of postmenopausal women, previously reported associations between both diabetes and smoking and an increased risk of cataracts were confirmed. There was also evidence of an increased risk for obese women. Physical activity, alcohol intake, reproductive factors and hormonal factors had little, if any, association with cataracts treated surgically,” the study authors wrote. – by Robert Linnehan
Disclosure: The authors report no relevant financial disclosures.
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Floud S, et al. Ophthalmology. 2016;doi:10.1016/j.ophtha.2016.04.037.
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