Abstract
Purpose :
To examine associations of alcohol intake and type with intraocular pressure (IOP) and glaucoma and assess whether associations were modified by a glaucoma polygenic risk score (PRS).
Methods :
Cross-sectional analysis of data from the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging Comprehensive Cohort, consisting of 30,097 adults ages 45 to 85 years, was conducted. Alcohol-consumption frequency (never, occasional, weekly and daily) and type (red wine, white wine, beer, liquor, other) were measured by interviewer-administered questionnaire. Total alcohol intake (grams/week) was estimated. IOP was measured in each eye using the Reichart Ocular Response Analyzer. The average of the two eyes was used. Participants reported a diagnosis of glaucoma from a doctor. Nonfasting blood samples were taken. The Affymetrix UK Biobank Axiom array was used for genotyping. The Craig et al glaucoma polygenic risk score was calculated. Logistic and linear regression models were used adjusting for demographic, lifestyle, and health variables. Interactions terms were added into regression models to assess whether alcohol associations were modified by a PRS.
Results :
Weekly (beta coefficient (β)=0.41; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.21-0.61) and daily (β=0.77; 95% CI: 0.52-1.01) drinkers had higher IOP, as compared with never drinkers. A one standard deviation increase in total weekly alcohol intake was also associated with higher IOP (β=0.19; 95% CI: 0.11-0.26). A one-drink increase in daily red wine (β=0.32; 95% CI: 0.22-0.42) and beer (β=0.16; 95% CI: 0.06-0.27) were associated with higher IOP. White wine, liquor and other alcohol types were not associated with IOP. The prevalence of glaucoma was not associated with alcohol consumption frequency, total alcohol intake, or any alcohol type. The PRS did not statistically significantly modify the associations of alcohol consumption frequency with IOP or glaucoma although the associations with IOP increased with increasing genetic risk.
Conclusions :
Weekly, daily alcohol consumption, total alcohol intake, beer, and red wine consumption were associated with elevated IOP but not with glaucoma. The PRS did not significantly modify the association of alcohol use and IOP or glaucoma. Findings should be confirmed in longitudinal analyses.
This abstract was presented at the 2023 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in New Orleans, LA, April 23-27, 2023.