The 13th World Conference on Tobacco OR Health

Objective: To investigate the associations between tobacco smoking and various forms of cataracts among the people of a state in India.

Methods: A population-based cross-sectional epidemiological study was conducted in the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. A total of 10,293 subjects of all ages from one urban and three rural areas, representative of the population of Andhra Pradesh, were interviewed and each underwent a detailed dilated ocular evaluation by trained professionals. Data were analyzed for 7,416 (72%) of the subjects above the age of 15.

Results: In multivariable analysis, cigarette and cigar smokers had a significantly higher prevalence of any cataract, adjusted OR = 1.51 (95% CI: 1.10-2.06) and 1.44 (95% CI: 1.12-1.84) respectively, compared with never smokers. A significantly higher prevalence of nuclear, cortical cataract and history of prior cataract surgery and/ or total cataract was found among cigarette smokers. A dose-response relationship was seen with respect to cigarette and cigar smoking. After adjustment, compared with never smokers, cigarette smokers who smoked heavily (more than 14 pack-years smoked) had a significantly higher prevalence of nuclear cataract OR = 1.65 (95% CI: 1.10-2.59), cortical cataract OR = 2.11 (95% CI: 1.38-3.24) and history of prior cataract surgery and / or total cataract OR = 2.10 (95% CI: 1.05-4.22). Nuclear cataract was significantly higher in cigar smokers, adjusted OR = 1.55 (95% CI: 1.16-2.01) and in cigar smokers who smoked heavily (more than 21 person-years of smoking) OR = 1.50 (95% CI: 1.10-1.95) compared with never smokers.