Increased risk of open-angle glaucoma among patients with diabetes mellitus: a 10-year follow-up nationwide cohort study

Purpose: To evaluate the risk of open-angle glaucoma among patients with diabetes. Methods: This retrospective propensity score-matched cohort study included patients with diabetes and a matched comparison group from the Korean National Health Insurance Service National Health Screening Cohort, which includes approximately 500 000 adults aged ≥40 years. Nondiabetes group was matched to diabetes group in a 1:1 ratio using a propensity score based on age, sex, comorbidities, antihypertensive medication use and medical care visits. Each group was followed from January 1, 2004 to either the date of developing open-angle glaucoma or the date of last follow-up in 2013. Results: Incidence of open-angle glaucoma was 20.0/10 000 person-years in diabetes group (n = 58 358) and 17.0/10 000 person-years in nondiabetes group (n = 58 358). Age- and sex- adjusted hazard ratio (HR) was 1.19 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.09–1.30). In the subgroup analyses, diabetes was associated with an increased risk of open-angle glaucoma in both younger and older age groups (HR = 1.20 for those aged 40–59 years and HR = 1.18 for those aged 60–79 years) and in both sexes (men, HR = 1.13; women, HR = 1.27). Conclusion: Patients diagnosed with diabetes were more likely to develop open-angle glaucoma compared with patients without diabetes.