Multiple Risk Factors On AMD - Part 1 of 2
Hello Everyone, Dr. Steve Ferrucci here and this week on AMD Focus, I will introduce the multiple risk factors for AMD and then dive a little deeper on non-modifiable factors. This blog is focused on discussing all things AMD and help educate both physicians and patients about what we can do to help those who are at risk of AMD or dealing with it already. As always, we are sponsored by Visible Genomics, a leader in genetic testing that was built to aid patients and physicians in providing better care in identifying the potential risk and level of progression of AMD.
Now that we got all the official stuff out of the way, let’s get into it. Today’s topic is risk factors on AMD, focused on those non-modifiable ones. There are multiple risk factors for AMD, both modifiable-those we can do something about- as well as non-modifiable -those we cannot change. The most important non-modifiable risk factor is age. Simply put, the older we get, the more likely we are to get AMD. As an example, the risk of AMD increases from approximately 2% in ages 50-59 to nearly 30% after the age of 85.
Perhaps the second most important non-modifiable risk factor is family history/genetics. Multiple studies have shown us that approximately 70% of a patient’s attributable risk is inherited, with the remaining 30% being environmental. This 70% inherited risk is much higher than other diseases that we also know are inherited, such as type 2 diabetes or colon cancer. Further, studies tell us that genetics and modifiable risk factors act together to truly help determine one’s risk for getting AMD, or for having it progress.
That’s why its important to know a patient’s genetic risk. By doing so, we can determine an individual’s inherited risk, and use this information to tailor treatment and examination protocols and frequency based on individual risk. A patient with higher inherited risk may warrant more frequent exams, more counseling regarding modifiable risk factors and lifestyle modification, additional testing, or earlier vitamin supplementation.
Other non-modifiable risk factors include race and sex. Women tend to get AMD more than men, with one large study determining that 65% of diagnosed AMD occurred in women, while men accounted for approximately 35%. Caucasians have the highest incidence of AMD followed by Asian American, Hispanic American and African American patients, who seem to have the lowest incidence of AMD.
Remember to check-in every two weeks to AMD Focus where, you guessed it, we focus on AMD. Our next topic will dive deeper into the modifiable risk factors for AMD.
Dr. Steve Ferrucci