Association between Open Angle Glaucoma and Metabolic Syndrome in Postmenopausal Women

Purpose: We investigated the relationship between metabolic syndrome and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) in postmenopausal women using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES).Methods: A multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted on postmenopausal women from KNHANES from 2010 to 2012, divided into open angle glaucoma and non-glaucoma groups. The analysis adjusted for age, intraocular pressure, education level, income level, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.Results: The odds ratio (OR) for OAG was 1.801 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.071-3.030) in the presence of metabolic syndrome. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, hypertriglyceridemia had an OR of 1.779 (95% CI 1.148-2.758). When hypertriglyceridemia was accompanied by hyperglycemia, the OR was 2.032 (95% CI 1.154-3.578). The OR was 1.839 (95% CI 1.209-2.797) when hypertriglyceridemia was accompanied by hypertension. For the combination of hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, and hypertension, the OR was 1.962 (95% CI 1.102-3.493). When hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, and waist circumference over 80 cm were present, the OR was 1.863 (95% CI 1.003-3.458). Lastly, the combination of hypertriglyceridemia, hyperglycemia, and low HDL cholesterol resulted in an OR of 1.976 (95% CI 1.096-3.562).Conclusions: In postmenopausal women, the presence of metabolic syndrome was associated with OAG, but the number of metabolic syndrome components was not related. Among the components of metabolic syndrome, only elevated triglycerides were associated with OAG.