Posters

Use of statins and antidepressants are associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery

Poster Details

First Author: J.Erie USA

Co Author(s):                  

Abstract Details

Purpose:

Statins and antidepressants, mainly selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), are the third and fourth most commonly prescribed drug classes in the U.S.A. Our purpose was to investigate whether statin use or SSRI use was associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery.

Setting:

Olmsted County, Minnesota, U.S.A. (2010 population: = 144,248)

Methods:

This is a population-based case control study that utilized the resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. Cases included 6,024 county residents aged 50+ years who had first-eye cataract surgery between January 1, 2004 and Dec 31, 2011. Controls were 6,024 residents who never had cataract surgery and were matched to cases by age, gender, and date of surgery. Primary analysis examined cases and controls who received statin or SSRI prescriptions for at least 1 year before the surgery date (cases) or index date (controls). Logistic regression models were used to compare differences between groups.

Results:

Statin use of 1 or more years was associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery (OR [odds ratio]=1.47; 95% CI [confidence interval], 1.36-1.58; P<0.0001). The association remained in women (OR=1.55; 95% CI, 1.40-1.70; P<0.0001) and men (OR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.21-1.53; P<0.0001). Similarly, SSRI use of 1 or more years was associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery (OR=1.36; 95% CI, 1.23-1.51; P<0.001), and the association remained for women (OR=1.37; 95% CI, 1.22-1.55; P<0.001) and men (OR=1.34; 95% CI, 1.12-1.61; P<0.001). The associations for statins and SSRIs remained significant after adjusting for cataract risk factors, diabetes and oral corticosteroid use (P<0.001).

Conclusions:

The use of statins and SSRI antidepressants for 1 or more years is associated with an increased risk of cataract surgery in men and women. The potential cataract risk of statins and SSRI antidepressants is important as their use is increasing and these drugs are among the most commonly prescribed classes of medications in the U.S.A. FINANCIAL INTEREST: NONE