Purpose: This meta-analysis was conducted to determine the potential association between adiposity and glaucoma incidence.
Materials and methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed and ISI Web of Science. A meta-analysis was conducted using STATA software.
Results: Fifteen eligible studies involving 2,445,980 individuals were included to investigate the association between adiposity and glaucoma incidence. The relative risks (RRs) were pooled with 95% confidence intervals (CI) by using a random-effects model. The pooled RR between adiposity and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) was 1.73 (95% CI, 1.18-2.54), whereas that between adiposity and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) was 0.97 (95% CI, 0.83-1.13). The pooled RR between abdominal adiposity and glaucoma was 1.28 (95% CI, 1.15-1.41), whereas that between general adiposity and glaucoma was 1.09 (95% CI, 0.87-1.37). Results of subgroup analysis by sex indicated the association between adiposity and glaucoma in the female group (RR, 1.31; 95% CI, 1.05-1.64), but not in the male group (RR, 1.11; 95% CI, 0.77-1.60). The pooled RR of cohort studies and cross-sectional studies were 1.00 (95% CI, 0.84-1.20) and 1.22 (95% CI, 0.89-1.66), respectively.
Conclusions: Adiposity has a higher risk of elevated IOP, and abdominal adiposity has a positive association with glaucoma, especially in female patients.