Alcohol Intake and the Risk of Age-Related Cataracts: A Meta-Analysis of Prospective Cohort Studies

Abstract

PurposeEpidemiologic studies assessing the relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of age-related cataracts (ARCs) led to inconsistent results. This meta-analysis was performed to fill this gap.MethodsEligible studies were identified via computer searches and reviewing the reference lists of these obtained articles. Pooled estimates of the relative risks (RR) and the corresponding 95% confidence Intervals (CI) were calculated using random effects models.ResultsSeven prospective cohort studies involving a total of 119,706 participants were ultimately included in this meta-analysis. Pooled results showed that there is no substantial overall increased risk of ARC due to heavy alcohol consumption. The estimated RRs comparing heavy drinkers versus non-drinkers were 1.25 (95% CI: 1.00, 1.56) for cataract sugery, 1.06 (95% CI: 0.63, 1.81) for cortical cataracts, 1.26 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.73) for nuclear cataracts, and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.32, 2.61) for posterior subcapsular cataracts (PSCs), respectively. No significant associations between moderate alcohol consumption and cataracts were observed. The pooled RRs comparing moderate drinkers versus non-drinkers were 0.90 (95% CI: 0.64, 1.26) for cataract surgery, 0.97 (95% CI: 0.75, 1.25) for cortical cataracts, 0.91 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.08) for nuclear cataracts, and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.49, 1.91) for PSCs, respectively.ConclusionsThis meta-analysis suggests that there is no substantial overall increased risk of ARC due to alcohol intake. Because of the limited number of studies, the findings from our study must be confirmed in future research via well-designed cohort or intervention studies.

Intake of Vegetables and Fruits and the Risk of Cataract Incidence in a Japanese Population: The Japan Public Health Center-Based Prospective Study

“…Multivariate adjustment used covariates with risk factors known or suspected to affect cataract incidence. 16,23,35 These were adjusted for age, area, and the following potential confounding factors: body-mass index (BMI), calculated as weight (kg)=height squared (m 2 ) and grouped into four categories (<21.0, 21.0-22.9, 23.0-24.9, and ≥25.0 kg=m 2 ); smoking status (non-smokers who did not have a history of smoking, and smokers who smoked currently or had smoked in the past); weekly alcohol intake (g=week), using four levels of consumption in men (non-and occasional drinkers, and drinkers of 1-149 g=week, 150-299 g=week, 300-499 g=week, and ≥450 g=week) and in women (non-and occasional drinkers, and drinkers of ≥1 g=week); total fruit intake, which was an adjustment factor in the analysis of total vegetable, cruciferous vegetable, and green and yellow vegetable intake (otherwise, total vegetable intake was used as an adjustment factor in the analysis of total fruit intake); vitamin supplement intake (yes or no); and fundus Vegetable and Fruit Intake and Cataract Risk photographic examination (yes or no). Furthermore, we calculated P interaction values using a likelihood-ratio test to compare logistic models with and without cross-product terms for smoking (non-smokers or smokers) and age (<60 or ≥60 years).…”

Prevalence of Self-Reported Diagnosed Cataract and Associated Risk Factors among Elderly South Africans

“…Prevalence in this study relied on participants’ access to health care services, i.e., individuals who were informed by a doctor that they had cataracts. Therefore, the lower prevalence observed may be attributed to undiagnosed cataracts not being included, among socio-economically disadvantaged elderly South Africans who could not access health services due to disparities in availability, accessibility, and affordability of cataract screening services [ 2 , 14 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 ]. Countries with universal health care systems, like in South Korea, tend to exhibit higher prevalence of self-reported cataract [ 11 ].…”

Risk Factors for Cataracts Treated Surgically in Postmenopausal Women

“…Two recent meta-analyses have examined the relationship between alcohol intake and the risk of cataract or cataracts treated surgically. 27 , 28 The first meta-analysis in 2014 of 7 prospective cohort studies did not find alcohol to be a statistically significant risk factor for cataract surgery or cataracts. 28 The second meta-analysis in 2015 of 5 prospective studies and 5 case-control studies reported a borderline increased risk of cataracts for heavy alcohol consumption (classified as >14 units per week), but confounding by smoking was seen.…”

“… 27 , 28 The first meta-analysis in 2014 of 7 prospective cohort studies did not find alcohol to be a statistically significant risk factor for cataract surgery or cataracts. 28 The second meta-analysis in 2015 of 5 prospective studies and 5 case-control studies reported a borderline increased risk of cataracts for heavy alcohol consumption (classified as >14 units per week), but confounding by smoking was seen. 27 We did not find a clearly increased risk of cataracts treated surgically related to heavy alcohol consumption, but there are few heavy alcohol drinkers in this cohort.…”

“…The slight decreased risk in our study for moderate alcohol consumption is consistent with the previous evidence of a lack of association. 27 , 28 …”