Jeong Hun Bae

The Role of Systemic Arterial Stiffness in Open-Angle Glaucoma with Diabetes Mellitus

Purpose. To investigate the role of systemic arterial stiffness in glaucoma patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). Design. Retrospective, cross-sectional study. Participants. DM subjects who underwent brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) were recruited. Methods. Glaucoma patients (n = 75) and age-matched control subjects (n = 92) were enrolled. Systemic examination including BaPWV and detailed eye examination were performed. The glaucoma group was divided into subgroups of normal tension glaucoma (NTG, n = 55) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) based on an IOP of 21 mmHg. BaPWV was used to stratify the population into 4 groups based on the rate. Stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis by baPWV quartiles was used to compare the glaucoma group with the control group. Main Outcome Measures. BaPWV in glaucoma with DM patients. Results. Faster baPWV was positively associated with glaucoma (odds ratio: 3.74; 95% CI: 1.03–13.56, stepwise multiple logistic regression analysis) in patients with DM. Increasing baPWV was also positively associated with glaucoma (p for trend = 0.036). The NTG subgroup showed similar results to those of the glaucoma group. Conclusions. In this study, increased arterial stiffness was shown to be associated with glaucoma and may contribute to the pathogenesis of glaucoma in DM patients.

Associations between Optic Cup-to-disc Ratio and Systemic Factors in the Healthy Korean Population

Purpose To assess the relationships between optic cup-to-disc ratio (CDR) and age, sex, and other demographic and health characteristics in the healthy Korean population. Methods The study design was retrospective and population-based. A total of 28,377 subjects who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2008 and 2011 were enrolled in this study. Participants underwent structured interviews as well as systemic and ophthalmic examinations. Patients with glaucoma who were diagnosed using the International Society of Geographical and Epidemiological Ophthalmology classification were excluded. Changes in vertical CDR were examined by age in relation to systemic variables on multiple regression analysis. Results The mean vertical CDR was 0.34 ± 0.12. The vertical CDR increased with age from subjects in their 20s to those in their 80s (p < 0.001). The mean CDR in males was significantly higher than that of females (p < 0.001). On multiple regression analysis, the vertical CDR was positively associated with age (p < 0.001), male sex (p < 0.001), diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.009), and intraocular pressure (p < 0.001) but was negatively associated with body mass index (p < 0.001). Conclusions Greater vertical CDR was related to age, male sex, higher diastolic blood pressure, higher intraocular pressure, and lower body mass index in healthy Koreans.

Risk Factors for Progression of Early Age-Related Macular Degeneration in Koreans

ABSTRACT Purpose: To identify risk factors for the progression of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Koreans. Methods: This study was conducted at a health-screening center and followed a prospective cohort study design. Of 10,890 participants older than 50 years, 318 (2.92%) presented with early AMD. Among these 318 participants, we re-examined 172 participants after a mean duration of 4.4 years. Progression was defined by the Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) simplified AMD severity scale. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine associations between AMD progression and baseline physical, demographic, behavioral, and ocular characteristics. Results: Of the 172 participants with early AMD who were re-examined, 34 (19.8%) had progression. Multivariable analyses revealed that current smoking (odds ratio, OR, 7.0, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.4–34.4, adjusted for age, alcohol consumption, body mass index, BMI, blood pressure, BP, total cholesterol, and high density lipoprotein, HDL, cholesterol) and hypertension (OR 10.3, 95% CI 1.9–55.7, adjusted for age, smoking status, alcohol consumption, BMI, total cholesterol, and HDL cholesterol) were independently associated with progression of early AMD. Additionally, the presence of a central drusen lesion within one-third disc diameter of the macula (age-adjusted OR 4.8, 95% CI 1.3–17.6) and 20 or more drusen (age adjusted OR 7.8, 95% CI 2.5–24.0) were independently associated with progression of early AMD. Conclusion: Current smoking, hypertension, central drusen location, and increasing number of drusen were associated with an increased risk of early AMD progression in Koreans.

Association of IOP with Systemic Factors in a Korean Cohort.

Purpose To assess the relationship of intraocular pressure (IOP) to age, sex, and other demographic and health characteristics in a Korean cohort. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included subjects (n = 155,198) without glaucoma. All participants underwent health screening at the Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from August 2012 to July 2013. Anthropometric measurements, systemic health characteristics, and ocular examination including noncontact tonometry were performed on all participants. Additionally, sociodemographic and behavioral questionnaires were obtained. The systemic variables were analyzed by multiple regression analysis to identify their relationship with IOP. Results The mean IOP tended to be highest in subjects in their 50s and lowest in subjects in their 20s and 60s for both Korean men and women. This pattern remained the same after adjusting for several demographic and health characteristics. The mean IOP for men was significantly higher than that for women (p < 0.001), but the difference between sexes decreased with increasing age. In the univariate analysis, almost all systemic factors showed a positive association with IOP except for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol. By multiple regression analysis, IOP was positively associated with sex (male), current smoking status, systolic blood pressure, fasting plasma glucose, body mass index, total cholesterol, and high-density lipoprotein (p ⩽ 0.001). Conclusions In a Korean cohort, the mean IOP was highest in subjects in their 50s. The mean IOP for men was significantly higher than that for women. Several systemic factors were significantly correlated with IOP.

Disc hemorrhages and their risk factors in an urban South Korean population.

Purpose The aim of this study was to estimate the prevalence of disc hemorrhage (DH) and evaluate its related risk factors in an urban South Korean population. Methods This retrospective cross-sectional study included subjects who underwent health screening at the Health Screening Center of Kangbuk Samsung Hospital from August 2012 to July 2013. All fundus photographs were first reviewed by two ophthalmologists and then by two glaucoma specialists and one retina specialist to determine the presence of DHs. In addition to fundus photographs, each participant completed systemic examination as well as sociodemographic and behavioral questionnaires. Results Fundus photographs were available for 164,029/168,044 (97.61%) subjects 20 years and older. The prevalence of DH was 226/164,029 (0.14%; 95% confidence interval, 0.12 to 0.16) per subject. A large proportion (61.5%) of eyes with DH had localized wedge-shaped retinal nerve fiber layer defects indicative of glaucoma. There was also a slight increase in DH prevalence with age, but no other statistically significant associations were found. Conclusions The prevalence of DH was 0.14% in urban South Korean subjects 20 years and older. Older age and the presence of glaucomatous retinal nerve fiber layer defects were associated with higher prevalence of DH. These findings suggest that the presence of a DH in an eye implies a high likelihood of glaucoma, although its absence does not indicate that glaucoma is absent.

The Rate of Helicobacter pylori Seropositivity in a Group of Korean Patients with HLA-B27-Associated Acute Anterior Uveitis

Purpose To investigate an association between Helicobacter pylori seropositivity and HLA-B27-positive acute anterior uveitis (AAU) in Korean patients. Methods Retrospective analysis was performed with data from 106 patients previously diagnosed with AAU without clinical evidence of spondyloarthropathy. Serum immunoglobulin G antibodies to H. pylori were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and HLA typing was performed using polymerase chain reaction of DNA amplification. We included 72 non-uveitis patients and 35 age- and sex-matched healthy controls in the study. Results Of the 106 patients with AAU, 41 (38.7%) were HLA-B27-positive, and 45 (42.5%) were seropositive for H. pylori. Patients with HLA-B27-positive AAU had a significantly lower prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity compared to those with HLA-B27-negative AAU and healthy controls (24.4% vs. 53.8%, p = 0.003; 24.4% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.004, respectively). In the non-uveitis group, however, HLA-B27-positive patients exhibited similar H. pylori seropositivity prevalence to HLA-B27-negative patients and healthy controls (45.5% vs. 55.7%, p = 0.529; 45.5% vs. 57.1%, p = 0.497, respectively). In multivariate analysis, a low prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity was significantly associated with HLA-B27-positive AAU (odds ratio = 0.340, 95% confidence interval 0.135–0.855, p = 0.022). Conclusions Our results suggest an inverse association between H. pylori seropositivity and HLA-B27-positive AAU. Further investigation of this association is needed, given the low prevalence of H. pylori seropositivity observed in patients with HLA-B27-positive AAU.

Effect of axial length on diurnal IOP in cataract patients without glaucoma.

Purpose To evaluate the effect of ocular biometrics on intraocular pressure (IOP) and diurnal IOP fluctuation in nonglaucomatous subjects. Methods We examined 115 subjects from May to December 2007 in Kangbuk Samsung Hospital, Seoul, Korea. Intraocular pressure was measured with a Goldmann applanation tonometer in habitual positions every 2 hours from 9 am to 11 pm. Ocular biometric values including central corneal thickness, central corneal power, axial length, anterior chamber depth, and lens thickness were measured using an ultrasound biometer and keratometer and the refractive state was determined. Results Two hundred fourteen eyes of 115 patients were included in this study; the mean (±SD) IOP of all eyes was 12.33 (±2.55) mmHg. The mean (±SD) diurnal IOP fluctuation was 2.72 (±1.43) mmHg. Central corneal thickness was positively correlated with the mean IOP (Pearson correlation, r = 0.217, p = 0.002); however, there was no relationship between central corneal thickness and the diurnal IOP fluctuation. Axial length was not related to the mean IOP (Pearson correlation, r = 0.049, p = 0.476) and the diurnal IOP fluctuation (Pearson correlation, r = 0.058, p = 0.395). The mean IOP or diurnal IOP fluctuation was not related to any of the following values: central corneal power, anterior chamber depth, refractive error, lens thickness, or vitreous chamber depth. Conclusions Central corneal thickness is significantly related to the IOP but may not affect diurnal IOP fluctuation. The axial length was not associated with IOP profiles in this study. Our results can contribute to a broader understanding of the effects of ocular biomechanical properties on the IOP profile.

Positional Intraocular Pressure of Vitrectomized and Normal Fellow Eyes

Purpose To compare posture-induced intraocular pressure (IOP) changes in vitrectomized eyes and normal eyes of patients who had vitrectomy in one eye. Methods A total of 31 patients older than 20 years of age who underwent vitrectomy were enrolled in the study. At least six months after vitrectomy, we measured IOP in both eyes using a rebound tonometer 10 minutes after the patient assumed sitting, supine, right lateral decubitus, and left lateral decubitus positions. Patients with a history of ocular surgery (not including vitrectomy) or recent medication use associated with IOP were excluded. IOP and ocular parameters of vitrectomized and normal fellow eyes were compared. For the decubitus position, IOP values of dependent and nondependent eyes were compared. Results No significant difference was observed in IOP between vitrectomized and normal eyes in the sitting and supine positions. The IOP for dependent eyes (on the lower side in the lateral decubitus position) was significantly higher than the IOP for nondependent eyes in both right lateral decubitus (right vitrectomized eye 19.31 ± 4.20 vs. 16.71 ± 4.02 mmHg, p < 0.001; left vitrectomized eye 18.35 ± 1.75 vs. 16.04 ± 3.02 mmHg, p = 0.003) and left lateral decubitus (right vitrectomized eye 17.32 ± 4.63 vs. 19.15 ± 3.83 mmHg, p = 0.004; left vitrectomized eye 16.19 ± 1.81 vs. 18.12 ± 2.29 mmHg, p < 0.001) positions. Conclusions IOP was higher in the dependent than the nondependent eye in the lateral decubitus position, for both vitrectomized and nonoperated eyes.

Risk Prediction Model for Progression of Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Aims: The aim of this paper was to develop a risk prediction model for the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in Koreans using systemic and environmental factors. Methods: The study sample included 10,890 individuals 50 years of age or older; 318 (2.92%) presented with early AMD findings in baseline examinations. Re-examinations were performed in 157 (49.37%) who were followed up for 4.4 years. The multivariate analysis of covariates included demographic and environmental factors. After using these data to develop a risk prediction model, the individual algorithm was made, and receiver operating characteristic curves were calculated to assess the predictive ability of the risk model for AMD progression. Results: The individual algorithm to predict the AMD progression risk based on systemic and ocular factors was as follows: Y = -9.565 + 1.709 (drusen locationcenter) + 0.795 (drusen locationparacentral) + 1.074 (both eyes) + 0.094 (drusen sizeintermediate) + 0.034 (drusen sizelarge) + 0.614 (drusen number10-20) + 2.278 (drusen number>20) + 0.577 (hyperpigmentation) + 0.725 (hypopigmentation) + 0.079 (male) - 0.025 (age) - 0.921 (SMKex) + 1.574 (SMKcurrent) + 0.363 (total protein) + 1.626 (globulin), where SMK means smoking status. The C statistics for the model was 0.84 (0.75-0.92) indicating a good predictive power. Conclusion: A comprehensive risk prediction model for AMD progression was made to calculate the individual AMD progression risk using personal systemic and environmental factors.