Aspirin use and risk of age-related macular degeneration: a meta-analysis

PLoS One. 2013;8(3):e58821. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0058821. Epub 2013 Mar 14.

Abstract

Background: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the main cause of blindness and the curative options are limited. The objective of this meta-analysis was to determine the association between aspirin use and risk of AMD.

Methods: A comprehensive literature search was performed in PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and reference lists. A meta-analysis was performed by STATA software.

Results: Ten studies involving 171,729 individuals examining the association between aspirin use and risk of AMD were included. Among the included studies, 2 were randomized-controlled trials (RCTs), 4 were case-control studies and 4 were cohort studies. The relative risks (RRs) were pooled using a random-effects model. Relative risks with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of aspirin use as a risk for AMD. The pooled RR of 10 included studies between the use of aspirin and risk of AMD was 1.09 (95% CI, 0.96-1.24). The same result was detected in early and late stage AMD subgroup analysis. In the subgroup analyses, the pooled RR of RCTs, case-control studies and cohort studies were 0.81 (95% CI, 0.64-1.02), 1.02 (95% CI, 0.92-1.14) and 1.08 (95% CI, 0.91-1.28), respectively.

Conclusions: The use of aspirin was not associated with the risk of AMD.

Publication types

  • Meta-Analysis
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aspirin / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Macular Degeneration / chemically induced*
  • Risk

Substances

  • Aspirin

Grants and funding

This work was supported in whole or in part, by National Nature Science Foundation Project (30901643), Shanghai Science Committee Biology Department Pilot Project (10411964900) and The New Excellence Project of Shanghai Health Bureau (XYQ2011067). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.