Association of Age-Related Macular Degeneration with Risk of All-Cause and Specific-Cause Mortality in the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2005 to 2008

Abstract

Importance: Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is the leading cause of irreversible visual impairment and blindness in the United States if subretinal neovascularization is left untreated. Knowledge of the association between AMD and survival is informative for underlying mechanisms of AMD. Objective: To examine the association between AMD and risk of all-cause and specific-cause mortality in a representative US sample. Design, Setting, and Participants: This population-based prospective cohort study included 5603 participants 40 years or older who responded to the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) in the 2005-2008 phase. Retinal photographs were graded as early, ..