Hypertension drugs may increase risk for early AMD

Use of vasodilators and oral beta-blockers was tied to a significantly increased incidence of exudative age-related macular degeneration, indicating that use in the care of older adults may need to be reevaluated, according to a study. The longitudinal, population-based study included 4,926 patients aged 43 to 86 years. Researchers reexamined the cohort at 5 years (n = 3,722), 10 years (n = 2,962), 15 years (n = 2,375) and 20 years (n = 1,913) for follow-up. Data indicated the 5-year incidence of early AMD over the 20-year period was 8.4%. The 5-year incidence was 1.4% for late AMD, 0.6% for pure geographic atrophy, 0.9% for exudative AMD and 24.9% for progression of AMD, according to the researchers.