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Abstract #24896 Published in IGR 11-4
Incorporating mortality risk into estimates of 5-year glaucoma risk
Griffin BA; Elliott MN; Coleman AL; Cheng EMAmerican Journal of Ophthalmology 2009; 148: 925-931
See also comment(s) by Felipe Medeiros •
PURPOSE: To incorporate mortality risk, a potentially important factor to consider when deciding whether to initiate therapy for ocular hypertensives, into estimates of 5-year glaucoma risk. DESIGN: Comparison study of estimates of glaucoma risk that do and do not account for mortality risk. METHODS: We computed 5-year risk of glaucoma for a set of hypothetical glaucoma suspects. We then determined their 5-year risk of death using the Charlson index, which is based on age and comorbidity, and computed mortality-adjusted 5-year risk that the individual will develop glaucoma before death. RESULTS: Accounting for mortality risk reduces the risk of developing glaucoma in one's lifetime. For example, a 75-year-old patient with an unadjusted 5-year glaucoma risk of 51.0% can have mortality-adjusted 5-year glaucoma risks of 41.8% (18% relative risk reduction) or 20.2% (60% relative risk reduction) assuming the patient has a Charlson comorbidity score of 1 or 3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Shortened life expectancy reduces 5-year risk of developing glaucoma. Thus, mortality risk is another factor clinicians should consider when deciding whether to initiate treatment of glaucoma suspects.
RAND Corp, Arlington, Virginia, USA. bethg@rand.org
Classification:
1.6 Prevention and screening (Part of: 1 General aspects)
1.1 Epidemiology (Part of: 1 General aspects)