Relationship between monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio and age-related macular degeneration: Findings from a national cross-sectional study

BackgroundRecent advances have revealed the important role of the immune system in the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR) is a combined marker reflecting inflammation status. However, research on the correlation between MLR and AMD is limited.MethodsIn this cross-sectional analysis, weighted multivariable logistic regression, multinomial logistic regression, subgroup analysis, smoothed curve fitting and threshold effect analysis were used to investigate the relationship between MLR and AMD based on data from the 2005-2008 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES).ResultsThis study included data of 4,655 participants. The proportions of no AMD, early AMD and late AMD were 92.27%, 6.79% and 0.95%, respectively. After adjusting for covariates, weighted multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that MLR was positively associated with AMD (<i>OR</i> = 3.22, 95%CI 1.32-7.82). Threshold effect analysis revealed that higher MLR associated with prevalence of AMD after MLR was greater than 0.37 (OR = 8.93, 95%CI 2.53-31.60). The diagnostic performance of MLR > 0.37 for AMD was assessed using ROC curve analysis. In addition, MLR was proven to have a significant positive correlation with early AMD (OR = 1.20, 95%CI 1.19-1.21) and late AMD (OR = 9.21, 95%CI 9.10-9.31) through weighted multinomial logistic regression.ConclusionsOur study demonstrates that an elevated MLR is independently associated with the prevalence of AMD.