Vascular and metabolic traits linked to angle-closure glaucoma

In a prospective study of 499,102 adults aged 30 to 79 years in the China Kadoorie Biobank, researchers tracked 117 potential risk factors across a median follow-up of 15.7 years. Over that period, 3,266 incident cases of probable primary angle-closure glaucoma were ascertained.

Using Elastic-Net, XGBoost, and Cox regression analyses with correction for multiple testing, the researchers identified 26 factors independently associated with probable disease. Age, female sex, and postmenopausal status showed the strongest positive associations. Several systemic indicators of metabolic and vascular aging—including diabetes, higher random plasma glucose, larger waist circumference, and elevated pulse pressure—were independently tied to higher risk, whereas body mass index showed an inverse association.