Increased end-stage renal disease risk in age-related macular degeneration: a nationwide cohort study with 10-year follow-up

Common etiologies between age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and kidney disease advocate a close link between AMD and end-stage renal disease (ESRD). However, the risk of ESRD in people with AMD was not reported. Here, we investigated the association between AMD and the risk of ESRD by using a nationwide, population-based cohort data in Korea. 4,206,862 participants aged 50 years or older were categorized by presence of AMD and visual disability. Risk of ESRD was the primary outcome. Cox regression hazard model was used to examine the hazard ratios (HRs) with adjustment for potential confounders. Stratified analyses by age, sex, baseline kidney function, and cardiometabolic comorbidities were performed. During the mean 9.95 years of follow-up, there were 21,759 incident ESRD events (0.52%). AMD was associated with 33% increased risk of ESRD (adjusted HR [aHR] 1.33, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.24–1.44), and the risk was even higher when accompanied by visual disability (aHR 2.05, 95% CI 1.68–2.50) than when not (aHR 1.26, 95% CI 1.17–1.37). Age, baseline kidney function, and cardiometabolic comorbidities significantly interact between AMD and the risk of ESRD. Our findings have clinical implications on disease prevention and risk factor management of ESRD in patients with AMD.