Abstract
Purpose: :
To investigate the influence of family history on the presence and severity of primary angle-closure (PAC) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in China.
Methods: :
A total of 332 PAC patients, 228 POAG patients and 193 cataract patients excluding glaucoma as control were enrolled in this study. All participants underwent a comprehensive eye examination and asked to finish a formed questionnaire. Past history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperopia, high myopia, and family history of glaucoma was noted. If family history was positive, the details of the affected relatives should be specified. Prevalence and odds ratios of family history and first-degree relatives including parents, siblings and offspring were calculated and analyzed. PAC and POAG were defined according to the Preferred Practice Pattern developed by American Academy of Ophthalmology. Severity of glaucoma was graded according to visual field examination.
Results: :
Of the 332 PAC patients, 83 (25.00%) had glaucoma family history. Characteristic-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of family history for PAC was 4.82 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08-11.19] and for severity of PAC was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.05-2.49). Presence and number of first-degree relatives both contribute to PAC with OR 5.09 (95% CI: 2.04-12.67) and OR 4.71 (95% CI: 1.91-11.60) respectively. Among first-relatives only parents contribute to PAC [OR 8.76 (95% CI: 2.00-38.32)]. Of the 228 POAG patients, 49 (21.49%) had glaucoma family history. Odds ratio for POAG was 8.38 (95% CI: 3.33-21.07) and for severity of POAG was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.05-3.14). Presence and number of first-degree relatives both contribute to POAG with OR 7.28 (95% CI: 2.70-19.64) and OR 6.61 (95% CI: 2.48-17.58) respectively. Different from PAC, only siblings and offspring contribute to POAG [OR 8.99 (95% CI: 2.38-33.99) and OR 19.23 (95% CI: 1.53-241.24) respectively].
Conclusions: :
Our study showed that glaucoma family history plays an important role not only for the presence but also for the severity of PAC and POAG. Only first-degree relatives had significant influence on PAC and POAG. Furthermore, parents related to PAC while siblings and offspring related to POAG. It will be an effective way to carry out screening of glaucoma mainly on the first-degree relatives of patients.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • visual search • optic nerve