Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Cataract and mortality. The Beijing eye study

  • Case Report
  • Published:
Graefe's Archive for Clinical and Experimental Ophthalmology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Background

To assess an association between cataract and mortality in a population-based setting.

Methods

At baseline in 2001, the Beijing Eye Study examined 4255 subjects for cataract using standardized lens photographs which were examined according to the Age-Related Eye Disease Study scheme. In 2006, all study participants were re-invited for a follow-up examination.

Results

Out of the 4255 subjects, 3142 subjects (73.8%) returned for follow-up examination, while 135 subjects (3.2%) were dead and 978 subjects (23.0%) did not agree to be re-examined or had moved away. In multivariate analysis, the amount subcapsular cataract was significantly associated with increased mortality (P = 0.029; OR: 2.14; 95%CI: 1.08, 4.25), particularly for the subjects with an age of 65+ years and 70+ years (P = 0.016 and P = 0.003 respectively). Correspondingly, product of age times amount of subcapsular cataract was significantly associated with mortality (P = 0.001). Degree of nuclear cataract and amount of cortical cataract were not associated with mortality in multivariate analysis (P = 0.910 and P = 0.938 respectively).

Conclusions

As also found in previous epidemiological studies on Western populations, cataract, namely subcapsular cataract in elderly subjects, is associated with an increased mortality risk.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Thylefors B, Negrel AD, Pararajasegaram R, Dadzie KY (1995) Global data on blindness. Bull World Health Organ 73:115–121

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  2. Wang JJ, Mitchell P, Simpson JM, Cumming RG, Smith W (2001) Visual impairment, age-related cataract, and mortality. Arch Ophthalmol 119:1186–1190

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Clemons TE, Kurini N, Sperduto RD, AREDS Research Group (2004) Associations of mortality with ocular disorders and an intervention of high-dose antioxidants and zinc in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS Report No. 13. Arch Ophthalmol 122:716–726

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Klein BE, Klein R (2006) Age-related eye disease, visual impairment, and survival: the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol 124:243–249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Cugati S, Cumming RG, Smith W, Burlutsky G, Mitchell P, Wang JJ (2007) Visual impairment, age-related macular degeneration, cataract, and long-term mortality: The Blue Mountains Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol 125:917–924

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Xu L, Cui T, Sun B, Zheng Y, Hu A, Li J, Ma K, Jonas JB (2006) Prevalence and risk factors of lens opacities in urban and rural Chinese in Beijing. Ophthalmology 113:747–755

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. McCarty CA, Nanjan MB, Taylor HR (2001) Vision impairment predicts 5 year mortality. Br J Ophthalmol 85:322–326

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Thiagarajan M, Evans JR, Smeeth L, Wormald RP, Fletcher AE (2005) Cause-specific visual impairment and mortality: results from a population-based study of older people in the United Kingdom. Arch Ophthalmol 123:1397–1403

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Knudtson MD, Klein BE, Klein R (2006) Age-related eye disease, visual impairment, and survival: the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Arch Ophthalmol 124:243–249

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  10. Clemons TE, Kurinij N, Sperduto RD, AREDS Research Group (2004) Associations of mortality with ocular disorders and an intervention of high-dose antioxidants and zinc in the Age-Related Eye Disease Study: AREDS Report No. 13. Arch Ophthalmol 122:716–726

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. West SK, Munoz B, Rubin GS, Schein OD, Bandeen-Roche K, Zeger S, German S, Fried LP (1997) Function and visual impairment in a population-based study of older adults: the SEE project: Salisbury Eye Evaluation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 38:72–82

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  12. Lee P, Smith JP, Kington R (1999) The relationship of self-rated vision and hearing to functional status and well-being among seniors 70 years and older. Am J Ophthalmol 127:447–452

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Horowitz A, Reinhardt JP, Boerner K (2005) The effect of rehabilitation on depression among visually disabled older adults. Aging Ment Health 9:563–570

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Rumsfeld JS, Jones PG, Whooley MA, Sullivan MD, Pitt B, Weintraub WS, Spertus JA (2005) Depression predicts mortality and hospitalization in patients with myocardial infarction complicated by heart failure. Am Heart J 150:961–967

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Ramrattan RS, Wolfs RCW, Panda-Jonas S, Jonas JB, Bakker D, Pols HAP, Hofman A, de Jong PTVM (2001) Visual field loss in the elderly: prevalence, causes and associations with daily life functioning. The Rotterdam Study. Arch Ophthalmol 119:1788–1794

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Beijing Institute of Ophthalmology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China

    Liang Xu, Tong Tong Cui, Ya Xing Wang & Jost B. Jonas

  2. Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Clinical Medicine Mannheim, University of Heidelberg, Mannheim, Germany

    Jost B. Jonas

Authors
  1. Liang Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Tong Tong Cui
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Ya Xing Wang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Jost B. Jonas
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jost B. Jonas.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Xu, L., Cui, T.T., Wang, Y.X. et al. Cataract and mortality. The Beijing eye study. Graefes Arch Clin Exp Ophthalmol 246, 615–617 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0731-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00417-007-0731-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation