Association between statin use and open-angle glaucoma: A nested case–control study using the Japanese claims database

Abstract

Abstract Background: The association between statins and open-angle glaucoma (OAG) remains controversial. Aim: This study investigated the relationship between statins and OAG in Japanese patients with dyslipidemia using the Japanese administrative claims database. Methods: A nested case–control study using two models was conducted using the JMDC claims database (01/2005–01/2020). The onset of OAG: index date was defined as the diagnosis of glaucoma, prescription of anti-glaucoma drugs, or surgery of glaucoma. For each case, 10 age-, sex-, and calendar year/month-matched controls were randomly selected from the risk sets. The number of statin prescriptions during the exposure period, which was identified as the12-month (model 1) or 24-month (model 2) periods prior to the index date, was used as an indicator for statin exposure. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated using multivariable conditional logistic regression analyses. Results: We identified 378,494 patients with newly diagnosed dyslipidemia. Of them, 6,281 cases and 62,804 controls (model 1) and 4,229 cases and 42,284 controls (model 2) were selected. Significant risk factors commonly identified in the two models were diabetes mellitus, myopia, and steroid use. Statin use was not identified as a significant risk factor for OAG (model 1: aOR 0.99, 95% CI 0.94–1.05, model 2: aOR 0.96, 95% CI 0.90–1.03). Conclusion: Compared with non-exposure, short-term exposure (<2 years) to statins was not related to increased risk of OAG in Japanese working-age population with dyslipidemia.