Association between Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Arthritis: Data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2017 and 2018

Purpose: We examined the association between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and arthritis.Methods: Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2017 and 2018, we conducted a complex sample analysis of 6,993 individuals with recorded information on AMD, as well as the diagnosis and treatment of osteoarthritis (OA) and rheumatoid arthritis (RA). We compared the diagnosis and treatment of arthritis between the AMD and control groups using logistic regression analysis, with a specific focus on the treatment among patients with arthritis.Results: In the AMD group (n = 1,118) and the control group (n = 5,875), univariate logistic regression analysis showed substantial differences in the diagnosis and treatment of OA and RA. However, after adjusting for age, alcohol consumption, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension in multivariate logistic regression analysis, these differences were no longer substantial. Among patients with OA (n = 246 in the AMD group and n = 821 in the control group), there was a significant association between AMD and OA treatments (odds ratio 1.511, 95% confidence interval 1.051-2.172).Conclusions: Patients diagnosed with and treated for OA had a higher likelihood of concurrent AMD than those who did not receive treatment. Therefore, ophthalmic examinations and closer monitoring are recommended for these patients.