American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 142, Issue 3 , Pages 419-428.e1, September 2006

Risk Factors for Five-Year Incident Age-related Macular Degeneration: The Reykjavik Eye Study

  • Arsaell Arnarsson, MSc

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
    • ,
  • Thordur Sverrisson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
    • Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan.
    • ,
  • Einar Stefánsson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
    • ,
  • Haraldur Sigurdsson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
    • ,
  • Hiroshi Sasaki, MD

      Affiliations

    • Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan.
    • ,
  • Kazuyuki Sasaki, MD

      Affiliations

    • Kanazawa Medical University, Uchinada, Japan.
    • ,
  • Fridbert Jonasson, MD

      Affiliations

    • Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Reykjavik, Iceland
    • Corresponding Author InformationInquiries to Fridbert Jonasson, MD, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Iceland, Landspitalinn, 101 Reykjavik, Iceland

Accepted 1 April 2006. published online 23 May 2006.

Purpose

To establish risk factors for five-year incidence of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).

Design

Population-based, prospective cohort study, and risk analysis.

Methods

A random sample from the Reykjavik Population Census for individuals 50 years and older was selected. We took fundus stereo color photographs and used standard grading system to study the five-year incidence of drusen, pigmentary abnormalities, and AMD and to examine possible risk factors. A questionnaire including information on disease, medication, diet, and lifestyle from the Reykjavik Eye Study database provided additional information.

Results

Current alcohol consumption decreased the risk for drusen. Being married rather than divorced or widowed decreased the risk for soft drusen; being single decreased the risk of hypopigmentation as compared with being divorced or married. Both consuming dietary fiber–rich vegetables and meat and meat products once a week or less frequently was a risk factor for developing soft drusen and decreased the risk of pigmentary abnormalities. Those who had smoked 20 pack-years or more as compared with nonsmokers had decreased survival rate over the five years (odds ratio (OR) 0.46, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.27 to 0.80; P = .006).

Conclusions

Risk factors for drusen appear to differ from risk factors for pigmentary abnormalities. The effect of smoking on developing AMD is partly masked by selective mortality.

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 Supplemental Material available at AJO.com.Supported in part by open Grants (all to F.J.) from St Joseph’s Hospital, Landakot Foundation, Reykjavik, Iceland; University National Hospital and University of Iceland Research Grant; and Helga Jonsdottir and Sigurlidi Kristjansson Memorial Research Fund.

PII: S0002-9394(06)00477-6

doi:10.1016/j.ajo.2006.04.015

American Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume 142, Issue 3 , Pages 419-428.e1, September 2006

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