A recent post hoc analysis of the Age-Related Eye Diseases Study 2 (AREDS2) examined the impact of alcohol consumption on the progression of age-related macular degeneration (AMD), including late-stage AMD and geographic atrophy (GA) enlargement rates.
Researchers analyzed data from 6670 eyes of 3673 participants without late AMD at baseline and 1143 eyes of 841 participants with GA confirmed at multiple visits. Using annual fundus photographs and dietary questionnaires, they assessed progression rates in relation to alcohol consumption levels.
Key findings included:
- AMD Progression: Over an average of 3.8 years, 40.2% of eyes progressed to late AMD. Moderate alcohol consumption was linked to a reduced risk of progression in men, with hazard ratios of 0.69 and 0.85 for low-to-moderate and high consumption, respectively. Women showed weaker associations, with a slightly protective effect only at higher consumption levels.
- GA Progression: GA enlargement was faster in women than men, averaging 0.295 mm/year versus 0.260 mm/year. In men, moderate drinking was associated with slower GA progression, while heavy drinking accelerated it. Women’s GA progression rates did not vary significantly by alcohol intake.
The findings suggest that moderate alcohol consumption may protect against late AMD progression in men, while heavy drinking should be avoided, particularly in individuals with GA.
Reference
Duic C, Vance E, Agrón E, et al; AREDS2 Research Group. Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Geographic Atrophy Progression: AREDS2 Report 34. Ophthalmol Retina. 2024;S2468-6530(24)00536-0. doi: 10.1016/j.oret.2024.11.006. Epub ahead of print. PMID: 39547357.
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