METABOLIC SYNDROME AND GLAUCOMA

 

Metabolic Syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities being regarded as a significant risk factor for chronic diseases. The association of MetS with glaucoma was studied in a meta-analysis by Li et al.

MetS is defined by the presence of three or more of the following:

• Waist circumference≥102  cm in men or ≥88  cm in women,
• Triglycerides≥150 mg/ dL,
• HDL cholesterol (HDL-C) < 40  mg/dL in men or < 50 mg/dL in women,
• Blood pressure≥130/85 mmHg,
• Fasting glucose≥100 mg/dL.

 

The exact mechanisms linking MetS to glaucoma are still undefined, but several plausible pathways have been proposed.

Both MetS and glaucoma share common risk factors, such as aging, hypertension, and obesity.

Vascular dysregulation, oxidative stress, and inflammatory processes seen in MetS could contribute to optic nerve damage, further supporting the hypothesis of a link between the two conditions.

The meta-analysis by Li involved 9 studies involving 2,258,797 participants.

The pooled results showed that MetS was significantly associated with an increased risk of glaucoma (OR: 1.34, 95% CI 1.15–1.55, p<0.001). Individuals with MetS had a 34% higher likelihood of developing glaucoma compared to those without MetS.

The results of subgroup analysis indicated hypertension and hyperglycemia were both associated with an increased risk of glaucoma. Still, the association with glaucoma was not significant for obesity, hypertriglycemia, or a low HDL-C. However, the difference among the subgroups was not statistically significant (p=0.05).

There is still controversy about the association of MetS and glaucoma due to conflicting results from previous studies, prompting further research on the subject.

 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; PMCID: PMC11657432.