Risk factors for the development of macular edema in noninfectious uveitis

Purpose. Macular edema (ME) is a vision-limiting complication of uveitis. The aim of the present study was to identify risk factors for the development of ME. Methods. This was an observational, cross-sectional study including 350 patients with noninfectious uveitis. Data were acquired by using a questionnaire. Associations with ME were analyzed for age, alcohol consumption, coffee consumption, cardiovascular risk factors, and level of education. Results. On univariate analysis, patients with ME were older (p<0.001, odds ratio [OR] 1.03) and had a longer history of uveitis (p=0.006, OR 1.03). Patients with university certificate or high school diploma had a significantly reduced risk (OR 0.25, p<0.001) to develop ME compared to patients with less education. For smoking, the number of pack-years was significantly but weakly associated with the presence of ME (p=0.02, OR 1.02). Smokers with a smoking history of more than 20 pack-years had a higher risk for ME (OR = 2.46, confidence interval 1.2-5.2). Daily coffee consumption predisposed to ME (p=0.02, OR 2.1). Arterial hypertension, body mass index, alcohol consumptions, and hypercholesterinemia were not associated with ME. Multivariate analysis confirmed age, coffee consumption, and low education to be risk factors for ME, whereas smoking was lost on multivariate analysis. Conclusions. Age, low level of education, daily coffee consumption, and possibly smoking are risk factors for ME in patients with noninfectious uveitis.