Is CKD Associated With Age-Related Macular Degeneration?

CKD shares risk factors, pathogenic mechanisms, and genetic polymorphisms with age-related macular degeneration (AMD). It is also possible that CKD can increase susceptibility to AMD. However, previous research exploring an association between CKD and AMD has been inconclusive.  

Can Can Xue, PhD, and colleagues further investigated the matter in a cross-sectional study using datasets from the Asian Eye Epidemiology Consortium. They conducted a pooled analysis using individual-level participant data to study associations between CKD and eGFR with early and late AMD adjusted for sex, age, BMI, smoking status, hypertension, diabetes, total cholesterol, and study groups.  

The primary study outcome was odds ratio of early AMD and late AMD. The researchers defined AMD using the Wisconsin Age-Related Maculopathy Grading System, the International Age-Related Maculopathy Epidemiological Study Group classification, or the Beckman clinical classification. They defined CKD as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m².  

Of the 51,253 study participants (mean age, 54.1±14.5 years), 9.90% (5,079) had CKD, 9.00% had early AMD, and 0.71% had late AMD. Patients with CKD had higher odds of late AMD (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.11-1.93; P=.008) after adjusting for confounders. Worse kidney function (per 10-unit eGFR decrease) was associated with late AMD (OR, 1.12; 95% CI, 1.05-1.19; P=.001), but CKD and eGFR did not demonstrate a significant association with early AMD (all P≥.149). 

The findings show that CKD and compromised kidney function are significantly associated with late AMD, emphasizing the importance of eye exams for patients with CKD. 

Source: Ophthalmology