Abstract
Purpose :
It has been proposed that incidence of cataracts is higher in postmenopausal women due to effects of estrogen on cataract formation. We performed a retrospective chart review to analyze risk factors for the formation of cataracts in women ages 20 through 85.
Methods :
A retrospective chart review was performed at a large, Houston County Hospital. Female patients with an ICD 9 or 10 cataract diagnosis or cataract extraction procedure code recorded between January 2013 through June 2018 were included. Demographics, age at cataract extraction, menopause status, systemic comorbidities, and ocular comorbidities were collected and analyzed using the t-test and chi-square test.
Results :
4,504 patients met inclusion criteria. A sample of 59 patients was randomly selected for data analysis. 35 patients were pre-menopausal, and 24 were post-menopausal.
Among the pre-menopausal cohort, mean age was 30.1 years (SD 5.53). Mean age at cataract extraction was 32.2 years (SD 6.16). 48% of extractions were in right eyes and 52% were in left eyes. The most common ocular comorbidities were glaucoma (17%) and diabetic retinopathy (17%). 69% were Hispanic, 26% were African American, and 5.7% were Caucasian. Mean BMI was 30.91 (SD 9.71). 19% were Type 2 Diabetics and 16% were Type 1 Diabetics. Mean Hemoglobin A1c (A1c) was 9.38. 77% of patients reported never smoking, 14% reported smoking, and 8.5% reported quitting. Mean age at menarche was 12.85 years (SD 1.46).
In the post-menopausal cohort, average age was 64.04 (SD 7.1). Mean age at cataract extraction was 64.8 years (SD 7.28). 26% of extractions were in right eyes and 74% in left eyes. The most common ocular comorbidities were diabetic retinopathy (25%) and glaucoma (25%). 77% of patients were Hispanic, 35% were black, 8.3% were Caucasian. 66% of patients were Type 2 Diabetics and 4% of patients were Type 1 Diabetics. Mean A1c was 8.04 Mean age of menopause was 51.8 years (SD 4.2). 7 patients received hormonal replacement therapy.
There was no statistical difference in cataract incidence between pre- and post- menopausal women (p>0.05). There was no significant difference in BMI, A1c, incidence of glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy between groups (p>0.05).
Conclusions :
Preliminary results of this study do not show a significant difference in incidence of cataracts in pre- and post-menopausal women. This analysis will be augmented upon further chart review.
This abstract was presented at the 2019 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Vancouver, Canada, April 28 - May 2, 2019.