The Gender-Dependent Association between Obesity and Age-Related Cataracts in Middle-Aged Korean Adults

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate the association of central and abdominal obesity with the prevalence of cataracts in a middle-aged Korean population. This retrospective cross-sectional study was based on the data collected from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2008–2009, in which 4,914 subjects were examined. Ophthalmological examinations were performed to determine the presence of a nuclear, cortical, or posterior subcapsular cataract. Both general obesity (a body mass index ≥25 kg/m2) and abdominal obesity (a waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥80 cm for women) were significantly associated with the occurrence of cataracts among middle-aged women [adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 1.32; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.03–1.69; and aOR, 1.40; 95% CI, 1.06–1.85, respectively], while abdominal obesity was significantly inversely associated with the occurrence of cataracts among middle-aged men (aOR, 0.76; 95% CI, 0.58–1.01; and aOR, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.49–0.89, respectively). We report a difference in the association between obesity and the prevalence of cataracts based on gender.

Investigating Risk Factors for Cataract Using the Cerner Health Facts® Database

“…Studies have shown an association between gentamicin toxicity and vision loss [30] however its role in the development of cataracts is unknown. Overall there are mixed views about obesity in the literature [31][32][33]. Our study found all 6 of these risk factors to have 20% or high odds of leading to development of cataract.…”

Obesity and Density of the Crystalline Lens: Revisiting a Growing Dilemma

“…Obesity is generally believed to accelerate ARC [1,2,3]. Although few evidence support the protective role of obesity against the cataract formation process [25,26], several prospective observational studies have confirmed a positive longitudinal association between obesity and different subtypes of cataract [3].…”

“…Obesity may accelerate age-related cataractogenesis (ARC), although the exact mechanisms are poorly understood [1,2,3]. Increased oxidative stress caused by higher circulating leptin levels of obese subjects is involved in the development and/or progression of cataract.…”

Associations between obesity and ocular health in Spanish adults

“…This increasing trend is of concern as obesity is an important risk factor for many chronic conditions such as cardiovascular disease, 2 diabetes, 3 cancer, 4 osteoarthritis, 5 and depression. 6 Importantly, in addition to the commonly recognized health outcomes associated with obesity, there is an increasing body of literature suggesting that overweight and obesity are associated with poor ocular health (eg, cataract, [7][8][9][10] visual impairment, 11,12 and poor visual acuity 13 ). For example, an Australian study of 3654 participants aged ≥49 years identified obesity as a risk factor for both cortical (odds ratio…”