Dados do Trabalho

Título

Exploring the Impact of Aspirin Use on Age-Related Macular Degeneration: A Comprehensive Meta-Analysis

Objetivo

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of visual impairment in developed countries. Prior studies have explored the relationship between aspirin use and the onset of AMD; however, the reported effects have been inconsistent. This meta-analysis aims to clarify this issue by systematically evaluating randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and cohort studies.

Método

We conducted a comprehensive search of the PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases up to September 2024 to identify studies examining the association between aspirin use and the development of AMD. We pooled odds ratios (OR) and hazard ratios (HR), where applicable, for binary outcomes with 95% confidence intervals (CI) using a random-effects model. We performed the prediction score analysis to improve the robustness of our results. All statistical analyses were performed using R version 4.4.1.

Resultados

Our meta-analysis included 18 studies, encompassing a total population of 1,238,152 patients. The analysis revealed no significant differences in the incidence of AMD between aspirin users and non-users, with an odds ratio of 1.15 (95% CI: 0.88 to 1.52; p=0.28; I²=98%) and a hazard ratio of 1.10 (95% CI: 0.63 to 1.92; p=0.23; I²=68%). Furthermore, the prediction score in both analyses enhanced the reliability of our findings.

Conclusões

Among patients who regularly use aspirin, the incidence of AMD was comparable to that of patients who do not use the medication, indicating no significant association between aspirin use and the development of AMD. Further RCTs are warranted to validate our results.

Palavras Chave

age-related macular degeneration; aspirin; meta-analysis