Glaucoma medications were associated with a reduced likelihood of death in U.S. adults with glaucoma, according to a study published in the February issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.
Researchers from the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor evaluated longitudinal data from 2003-2007 on 21,506 patients age 40 years or older with glaucoma or suspected glaucoma enrolled in a large managed care network. Hazard of death associated with the use of glaucoma medications was estimated using Cox regression analysis, and researchers adjusted for demographic conditions and comorbid diseases, according to the study.
Of the 21,506 patients, 237 (1.1 percent) died during the evaluation period. Researchers found that the use of any glaucoma medication was associated with a 74 percent reduced hazard of death compared with no use of glaucoma medications. This association was observed in the use of a single agent alone, such as topical β-antagonist or a prostaglandin analogue, or the use of different combinations of agents, according to the study.
Researchers concluded that further study is warranted on the findings because they may have important clinical implications.
Read the study on the use of glaucoma medications and mortality.