Abstract
Purpose: :
To verify the relationship of serum lipoproteins with age-related macular degeneration (ARMD) in an elderly population in the North-East of Italy.
Methods: :
845 randomly selected subjects, representing a population of 50.000 individuals, underwent a complete ophthalmological examination in order to determine ARMD prevalence in the North-East of Italy. Total cholesterol, LDL and HDL serum concentrations were obtained by means of routine blood exams and were subsequently correlated with the ARMD prevalence.
Results: :
Prevalence of clinically significant ARMD lesions (soft drusen larger than 125 microns) was found to be directly associated with increased blood cholesterol and lipoproteins levels (OR 1.33; 95% CI 1.03-1.73)
Conclusions: :
These findings support the hypothesis that abnormal values of total blood cholesterol, LDL and HDL concentrations are associated with higher prevalence of ARMD, which confirms that serum lipids abnormalities may play an important role in ARMD pathogenesis.
Keywords: age-related macular degeneration • lipids