Forskning

August 27, 2012

The relation between caffeine and coffee consumption and exfoliation glaucoma or glaucoma suspect: a prospective study in two cohorts

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: We examined the association between caffeine and caffeinated beverage consumption in relation to the risk of exfoliation glaucoma or exfoliation glaucoma suspect (EG/EGS).

METHODS: We followed 78,977 women from the Nurses’ Health Study and 41,202 men from the Health Professionals Follow-up Study who were at least 40 years of age, did not have glaucoma, and reported

undergoing eye examinations from 1980 (NHS) / 1986 (HPFS) to 2008. Information on consumption of caffeine containing beverages and potential confounders were repeatedly ascertained in validated follow-up questionnaires. Confirmation with medical record review revealed 360 incident EG/EGS cases. Multivariate rate ratios (RRs) for EG/EGS were calculated in each cohort and then pooled using meta-analytic techniques.

RESULTS. Compared with cumulatively updated total caffeine consumption of < 125 mg/day, participants who consumed > 500 mg/day had a trend toward increased risk of EG/EGS that was not statistically significant (RR=1.43 (95% CI: 0.98-2.08); p-trend = 0.06). Compared to abstainers, those who drank >3 cups of caffeinated coffee daily were at increased risk of EG/EGS (RR=1.66 (95% CI: 1.09-2.54); p-trend = 0.02). These results were not materially altered after adjustment for total fluid intake. The associations were stronger among women with a family history of glaucoma (p-interaction=0.06 for coffee; 0.03 for caffeine). We did not find associations with consumption of other caffeinated products (caffeinated soda, caffeinated tea, decaffeinated coffee or chocolate) and risk of EG/EGS (p-trend  >0.31).

CONCLUSIONS. We observed a positive association between heavier coffee consumption with risk of EG/EGS in this large prospective study.