Objective: To examine the potential influence factors of age-related macular degeneration (AMD).
Methods: A nationwide multicenter case-control study conducted between Jan. 2008 and May 2010. A total of 545 AMD patients and 480 controls, aged 50 years or older consented to participate in the study. Questionnaires were designed to collect information about demographic characteristics (age, gender), family history, disease history, and behavior factors (smoking, drinking). Moreover, physical examinations, biochemical examinations and ophthalmology examinations were conducted for each participant.
Results: The subjects who had AMD family history were 4.21 times more likely to have AMD (P<0.001). The subject who had the history of tracheitis /asthma were 1.87 times more likely to have AMD (P=0.008). Both smoking and drinking were risk factors to AMD (OR= 1.91,P < 0.001; OR=1.53, P = 0.003, respectively). Total protein (P = 0.004), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ester (P = 0.016) and apolipoprotein A1 (P = 0.012) were associated with AMD.
Conclusion: Family history, smoking, drinking and history of tracheitis /asthma are the risk factors of AMD. Total protein, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ester and apolipoprotein A1 are associated with AMD.