Purpose: To identify the likelihood of family history as a risk factor for the presence and severity of primary angle closure (PAC) and primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) in a Chinese population.
Methods: All participants were asked to complete a questionnaire and undergo a comprehensive eye examination. Past history of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hyperopia, high myopia, and family history of glaucoma were recorded. For those patients with a family history of glaucoma, the relationship between the patient and the affected relatives has been specified.
Results: A total of 332 PAC patients, 228 POAG patients and 193 controls were included. Of the 332 PAC patients, 83 (25.00%) had glaucoma family history. Characteristic-adjusted odds ratio (OR) of family history for PAC was 4.82 [95% confidence interval (CI): 2.08-11.19] and for severity of PAC was 1.61 (95% CI: 1.05-2.49). Among first-relatives only parents account for the family history rate of PAC [OR 8.76 (95% CI: 2.00-38.32)]. Of the 228 POAG patients, 49 (21.49%) had a family history of glaucoma. Odds ratio for POAG was 8.38 (95% CI: 3.33-21.07) and for severity of POAG was 1.81 (95% CI: 1.05-3.14). Unlike patients with PAC, only siblings and offspring account for the family history rate of POAG [OR 8.99 (95% CI: 2.38-33.99) and OR 19.23 (95% CI: 1.53-241.24) respectively].
Conclusion: Our study showed that a family history of glaucoma is associated with the presence and severity of PAC and POAG. This supports the finding that screening first-degree relatives will be an effective way to detect glaucoma in a population.