Association of dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate, serum lipids, C-reactive protein and body mass index with age-related macular degeneration

The present study was designed to evaluate the associations between exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and the serum concentrations of C-reactive protein (CRP), dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS), and lipids as well as the relationship between exudative AMD and body mass index (BMI). This cross-sectional study included of 141 healthy control subjects (70 males and 71 females with a mean age of 71.01 ± 3.84 years) and 142 exudative AMD patients (70 males and 72 females with a mean age of 70.92 ± 3.60 years). BMI and the serum concentrations of CRP, DHEAS, and lipids were measured in both groups. The data were statistically analysed using the Mann–Whitney U test, Chi squared test, independent sample t test, Cramer’s V, point biserial correlation and logistic regression analysis. BMI values and serum concentrations of CRP, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol were significantly higher in exudative AMD patients compared with normal controls (p values were 0.001, <0.001, 0.005 and <0.001, respectively). The serum concentrations of DHEAS were not significantly different between the controls and the exudative AMD patients for the subgroups of either gender (p values in males and females were 0.785 and 0.159, respectively). A logistic regression analysis revealed that the BMI and serum concentration of CRP moderately contributed to the predictive ability of the model (odds ratios were 1.205 and 1.179, respectively). Elevated total cholesterol concentrations and LDL cholesterol concentrations, BMI values and serum concentrations of CRP were associated with exudative AMD. However, no association between the serum DHEAS concentration and exudative AMD was established.