Glaucoma linked with higher mortality

Glaucoma may be associated with an increased rate of mortality in adults, according to a report published online ahead of print by Eye.

Liang Xu and co-workers from the Beijing Eye study examined 4,356 subjects for glaucoma in 2001, with a detected glaucoma frequency of 3.1%. All participants were invited for a follow-up examination in 2006.

Of the 4,356 subjects, 3,208 (73.6%) returned for a follow-up examination, while 124 (2.8%) were dead and 1,024 (23.5%) did not agree to be re-examined or had moved away. Mortality rate was significantly higher in the 135 glaucoma subjects (11.1%) than in the 4,221 patients without glaucoma (2.6%).

The study data therefore suggests that there may be an increased rate of mortality among glaucoma sufferers.