Risk factors of presenile nuclear cataract in health screening study

BACKGROUND: To identify risk factors for the development of presenile nuclear cataract in health screening test. METHODS: The cross sectional study included a total of 532 eyes of 266 participants aged 30 to 49 years of Samsung Medical Center from February 2013 to April 2015. Presence of nuclear cataract was defined when the log MAR visual acuity with correction was greater than or equal to 0.2 and one or more of the following were met: Pentacam Nuclear Staging (PNS) grading score ≥ 1, average value of nuclear density ≥ 15%, maximum value of nuclear density ≥ 30%. Possible risk factors were obtained from blood tests and questionnaires of a health screening test of Samsung Medical Center. Association between nuclear cataract and risk factors was investigated using univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis by generalized estimating equation (GEE) models. RESULTS: Five factors were significantly associated with presenile nuclear cataract: current smoking [odds ratio (OR) = 2.80, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.10–7.12, p = 0.0310], non-exercise and high amount of daily physical exercise (OR = 3.99, 95% CI, 1.27–12.52, p = 0.0178; OR = 2.92, 95% CI, 1.38–6.22, p = 0.0053), asthma (OR = 8.93, 95% CI, 1.12–71.15, p = 0.0386), tuberculosis (OR = 4.28, 95% CI, 1.36–13.50, p = 0.0131), and higher total iron binding capacity (OR = 1.01, 95% CI, 1.00–1.02, p = 0.0059). CONCLUSIONS: Presenile nuclear cataract is related to current smoking, non-exercise or high amount of physical exercise, asthma, tuberculosis, and iron deficiency status. The association of non-exercise group and presenile nuclear cataract seems to be related to co-morbidity. Patients with asthma, tuberculosis, or iron deficiency anemia are recommended to receive frequent ophthalmic examination to detect cataract. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1186/s12886-018-0928-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.