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Clinical science
Is aspirin intake associated with early age-related macular degeneration? The Singapore Indian Eye Study
  1. Ning Cheung1,2,3,
  2. Wan-Ting Tay1,
  3. Gemmy C M Cheung4,
  4. Jie-Jin Wang5,
  5. Paul Mitchell5,
  6. Tien Y Wong1,3
  1. 1Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore
  2. 2Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
  3. 3Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
  4. 4Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore
  5. 5Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Westmead, New South Wales, Australia
  1. Correspondence to Professor T Y Wong, Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, 11 Third Hospital Avenue, Singapore 168751, Singapore; ophwty{at}nus.edu.sg

Abstract

Background/aims To examine the relationship between aspirin intake and early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) among an Asian population.

Methods A population based cross sectional study of 3207 ethnic Indians aged 40 years or older residing in Singapore. AMD signs were graded from retinal images following the modified Wisconsin grading system. Information on aspirin intake was obtained from a standardised questionnaire.

Results The prevalence of early AMD was 5.6%. Aspirin use was reported by 11.4% of participants. Early AMD signs were present among 10.9% of aspirin users and 4.9% of non-aspirin users (p<0.001). After adjusting for potential confounders, including age, smoking and previous cataract surgery, aspirin use was associated with early AMD (OR 1.50; 95% CI: 1.01 to 2.22). The association weakened and was not significant after additional adjustment for cardiovascular disease (OR 1.38; 95% CI 0.89 to 2.14). In stratified analysis, aspirin use was significantly associated with early AMD in participants with (adjusted OR 2.64, 95% CI 1.31 to 5.36) but not without (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.36 to 1.51) a history of cardiovascular disease (interaction term, p=0.011).

Conclusions Aspirin intake overall was not associated with early AMD in this sample of Asian Indians, but in those with a history of cardiovascular disease the association between aspirin intake and early AMD might warrant further investigation.

  • Epidemiology
  • Retina
  • Macula

https://doi.org/10.1136/bjophthalmol-2012-302253

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