Long-Term Systemic Use of Calcium Channel Blockers and Incidence of Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

Purpose

To evaluate the association between the systemic use of calcium channel blockers (CCBs) and primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) using a diverse nationwide dataset.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Subjects

213 424 individuals aged 40 years and older in the National Institutes of Health All of Us dataset, notable for its demographic, geographic, and medical diversity and inclusion of historically underrepresented populations. Patients with a diagnosis of POAG prior to use of any kind of antihypertensive medication were excluded.

Methods

Bivariate and multivariable regression analyses were performed to evaluate associations between CCB use and POAG. Calcium channel blocker use was further divided into exposure to dihydropyridine CCBs and nondihydropyridine CCBs, and subgroup analyses were performed using chi-square and Fisher tests.

Main Outcome Measures

Diagnosis of POAG.

Results

Within our cohort, 2772 participants (1.3%) acquired a diagnosis of POAG, while 210 652 (98.7%) did not. Among patients who developed POAG, the mean age was 73.3 years, 52.5% were female, and 48.2% identified as White. Among patients with POAG, 32.6% used 1 or more CCB, 28.2% used a dihydropyridine CCB, and 2.2% used a nondihydropyridine CCB. In bivariate analysis, use of any CCBs was associated with an increased risk of POAG (odds ratio [OR]: 1.29, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.27–1.31, P < 0.001). In multivariable analysis adjusting for age, gender, race, ethnicity, and comorbidities such as diabetes, hyperlipidemia, and hypertension, use of any CCBs remained associated with an increased risk of developing POAG (OR: 1.52, 95% CI: 1.33–1.74, P < 0.001). When stratified by type of CCB, the use of dihydropyridine CCBs (OR: 1.31, 95% CI: 1.14–1.50, P < 0.001) was associated with increased POAG risk.

Conclusions

Use of dihydropyridine CCBs was associated with a significantly higher risk of developing POAG, both before and while adjusting for demographic factors and comorbid medical conditions.

Financial Disclosure(s)

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.