Physical Activity and the 15-year Cumulative Incidence of Age-related Macular Degeneration: The Beaver Dam Eye Study

Michael D Knudtson ^1*, Ronald Klein ¹ and Barbara E.K. Klein, MD ¹

¹ University of Wisconsin-Madison, School of Medicine and Public Health, United States

^* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: knudtson{at}epi.ophth.wisc.edu.

Accepted 11 September 2006

Abstract

Background: Cardiovascular disease and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) may share common risk factors. Physical activity improves the cardiovascular risk profile, however there have been few studies investigating a relationship between physical activity and the long-term incidence of AMD.

Methods: The 15-year cumulative incidence of AMD was determined through four examination phases at five-year intervals of a population-based study conducted in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, initiated in 1988-1990 (n=3,874 men and women between ages of 43-86 years). Early AMD (pigment abnormalities or soft indistinct drusen), exudative AMD, and geographic atrophy were determined by grading stereoscopic color fundus photographs. Measures of physical activity were obtained through a questionnaire administered at the baseline examination.

Results: After controlling for age, gender, arthritis history, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, smoking history, and education, persons with an active lifestyle (defined as regular activity 3 times/week) at baseline were less likely to develop exudative AMD (odds ratio [OR]= 0.3, 95% confidence interval [CI]=0.1-0.7) compared to persons without an active lifestyle. After multivariate adjustment, increased categories of number of blocks walked per day decreased the risk of exudative AMD (OR=0.7, 95% CI=0.6-0.97). Physical activity was not related to the incidence of early AMD or pure geographic atrophy.

Conclusions: These data show a protective effect of physical activity for incident exudative AMD, independent of body mass index and other confounders. These data suggest a possible modifiable behavior that might be protective against developing AMD.

Keywords: Age related macular degeneration, Epidemiology, Exercise, Incidence, Physical activity

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