The Association Between Glaucoma, Anxiety, and Depression in a Large Population

Purpose: To investigate the association between glaucoma and each of anxiety and depression.

Design: Retrospective case-control study.

Methods: Settings: University of North Carolina hospitals and outpatient clinics.

Study Population: All patients over the age of 18 years seen between July 1, 2008 and October 1, 2015 were included.

Observation Procedure: International Classification of Diseases codes were used to identify cases of glaucoma, as well as anxiety and depression.

Outcome Measure: Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for glaucoma and each of anxiety and depression. OR were also calculated for above diagnoses separated by age group and sex.

Results: A total of 4 439 518 patients were screened, of which 11 234 (0.3%) have glaucoma, 96 527 (2.2%) have anxiety, and 103 476 (2.3%) have depression. The adjusted OR was 10.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.0-11.0) for glaucoma and anxiety and 12.3 (95% CI 11.8-12.9) for glaucoma and depression. The likelihood of having anxiety and depression along with glaucoma did not change with age (P = .088, P = .736).

Conclusion: There was a statistically significant association between glaucoma and each of anxiety and depression.