Korean J Ophthalmol.  2023 Dec;37(6):490-500. 10.3341/kjo.2023.0059.

Relative Risks for Dementia among Individuals with Glaucoma: A Meta-Analysis of Observational Cohort Studies

• Huh MG
• Kim YK
• Lee J
• Shin YI
• Lee YJ
• Choe S
• Kim DW
• Jeong Y
• Jeoung JW
• Park KH

• KMID: 2548679
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.3341/kjo.2023.0059

Abstract

Purpose
To investigate the relative risks (RRs) for dementia among individuals with glaucoma.
Methods
We conducted a search of PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Cochrane databases for observational cohort studies examining the association between glaucoma and dementia until March 2023. Two authors independently screened all titles and abstracts according to predefined inclusion and exclusion criteria. Pooled RR and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were generated using random-effect models.
Results
The meta-analysis included 18 cohort studies conducted in eight countries and involving 4,975,325 individuals. The pooled RR for the association between glaucoma and all-cause dementia was 1.314 (95% CI, 1.099–1.572; I² = 95%). The pooled RRs for the associations of open-angle glaucoma with Alzheimer dementia and Parkinson disease were 1.287 (95% CI, 1.007–1.646; I² = 96%) and 1.233 (95% CI, 0.677–2.243; I² = 73%), respectively. The pooled RRs for the associations of angle-closure glaucoma with all-cause dementia and Alzheimer dementia were 0.978 (95% CI, 0.750–1.277; I² = 17%) and 0.838 (95% CI, 0.421–1.669; I² = 16%), respectively. No evidence of publication bias was detected in the Begg-Mazumdar adjusted rank correlation test (p = 0.47).
Conclusions
Based on current observational cohort studies, there is evidence supporting that glaucoma is a risk factor for dementia in the adult population.

Keyword

Alzheimer disease; Dementia; Glaucoma; Meta-analysis; Open-angle glaucoma