Abstract
Purpose :
A self-reported history of glaucoma among blood-relatives is of interest in regard to glaucoma risk factor determination and for clinical investigation. Positive or negative report of a family history of glaucoma may be subject to considerable bias however, and may be highly dependent on individual patient characteristics. To develop further understanding of variables that may be associated with a positive report of a family history of glaucoma, whether accurate or not, analysis was conducted in order to gain better understanding of subject characteristics that have association with positive report of a family history of glaucoma.
Methods :
Patients presenting to an urban academic eye care facility in Chicago, IL received comprehensive examination during a separate investigation that also included administration of a written questionnaire designed to help collect information about numerous health and lifestyle variables, including education level, presence of systemic and ocular health conditions, alcohol use, smoking, and drug use. Using these data, regression analyses were conducted to explore associations with a patient-reported history of glaucoma among first-degree relatives.
Results :
The analysis included 2,276 subjects (64% female, 36% male). The population studied was predominantly African-American (87%), with much lower representation among other groups (Hispanic=5%, White=4%, Asian=1%, Other race=3%). Mean age of subjects was 51.7 +/- 15.5 years (range=18-94 years). Variables with significant association with a reported family history of glaucoma among a first-degree relatives included increasing age (in decades, OR=1.2, P<0.0001), female gender (OR=1.5, P<0.01), greater than high school education level (OR=1.6, P<0.01), being labeled as a glaucoma suspect (OR=2.3, P<0.0001), carrying a diagnosis of glaucoma and on medication (OR=3.1, P<0.0001), and a reported history of drug use (OR=1.5, P<0.05).
Conclusions :
Reported family history of glaucoma is complex, and often likely to be biased depending on patient characteristics that might simply influence the likelihood of reporting. Determination of true family history of glaucoma for clinical investigation and patient care should carefully consider potential biases.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2016 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, Wash., May 1-5, 2016.