Metabolic Syndrome Increases Risk of Glaucoma, Study Finds

Researchers have established that metabolic syndrome (MetS) patients are at a considerably increased risk of suffering from glaucoma, a common cause of irreversible blindness around the world. A recent meta-analysis that included more than 2.25 million participants revealed that MetS raises the odds of suffering from glaucoma by 34%. The study was conducted by Fei Li and colleagues which was published in the journal Diabetology and Metabolic Syndrome.

Metabolic syndrome includes hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity, and dyslipidemia, which increase the risk for cardiovascular diseases and diabetes. Glaucoma is defined as a progressive optic nerve damage and has multifactorial risk factors, including intraocular pressure and vascular dysregulation. Despite some potential link between MetS and glaucoma, no consensus has been reached; thus, there is not enough evidence. This study aimed at performing a systematic review of the association of MetS with the risk for glaucoma by collecting data from several observational studies.

This meta-analysis looked at observational studies that appeared up to August 12, 2024. Databases searched included PubMed, Embase, and Web of Science for the inclusion of relevant studies. In all, nine studies that included 2,258,797 participants were incorporated into this analysis. ORs with 95% CIs were used to measure the association between MetS and risk of glaucoma.

Heterogeneity was assessed by the I² statistics. A random-effects model was used due to high heterogeneity with I² = 75%. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were conducted for the investigation of factors that may modify the findings.

The authors also looked at the associations of individual components of MetS, that is, hypertension, hyperglycemia, obesity, and dyslipidemia with the risk of glaucoma.

Key Findings

Overall Association:

  • MetS was strongly associated with an enhanced risk of glaucoma (OR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.15–1.55, p < 0.001).

  • Hypertension and hyperglycemia were significantly related to glaucoma.

  • Obesity and dyslipidemia show no significance but differences were not statistically significant (p=0.05).

Further research is needed to explore the underlying mechanisms linking MetS to glaucoma. Exploring whether controlling MetS can reduce glaucoma risk would also be valuable. This meta-analysis confirmed that metabolic syndrome is significantly associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. Such findings call for heightened awareness and integrated screening approaches for glaucoma among individuals with MetS to mitigate the risk of vision loss.

Reference:

Li F, Luo Y, Li X, Dai Y, Xiang Q. Association between metabolic syndrome and the risk of glaucoma: a meta-analysis of observational studies. Diabetol Metab Syndr. 2024 Dec 18;16(1):300. doi: 10.1186/s13098-024-01532-4. PMID: 39696489.

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