Comorbidity of dementia and age-related macular degeneration calls for clinical awareness: a meta-analysis

AimTo determine the association between dementia and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) using meta-analysis.MethodsWe searched in the MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Knowledge, PsycInfo and Cochrane database of systematic reviews for studies published from March 1959 to March 2018. We included cross-sectional, case–control and cohort studies that evaluated the association of dementia/Alzheimer's disease (AD) with AMD (as outcome) and the association of AMD with dementia/AD (as outcome). Studies that compared cognitive functions between AMD and controls were also included. The summary outcomes, namely odds ratio (OR), relative risk, mean differences and corresponding 95% CIs, were estimated using random effects models. We performed sensitivity analysis based on study quality and individual study effect to control for potential biases.ResultsAmong 2159 citation records, we identified 21 studies consisting of 7 876 499 study subjects for meta-analysis. Patients with dementia (padjusted≤0.017, OR≥1.24, I2≤9%) or AD (p=0.001, ORunadjusted=2.22, I2=50%) were at risk for AMD, particularly for late AMD (padjusted