Does Aspirin Protect Against Nonarteritic Ischemic Optic Neuropathy Development in Men?

This article is part of MPR’s coverage of the American Academy of Ophthalmology 2019 Meeting, taking place in San Francisco, CA. Our staff will report on medical research related to eye disorders, conducted by experts in the field. Check back regularly for more news from AAO 2019.

SAN FRANCISCO – Aspirin does not appear to reduce the risk of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy development in men, according to data presented at the 2019 American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting in San Francisco, CA.

Using multivariate Cox regression models, the researchers sought to determine the relationship between certain factors (ie, age, race, BMI, diabetes, smoking status, Charlson comorbidity index, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, stroke, myocardial infarction, ischemic heart disease; aspirin, statin, warfarin, clopidogrel, sildenafil use) and a new diagnosis of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy using data from the California Men’s Health Study. 

Results showed that among 45,281 participants who completed surveys between 2002 and 2006, 130 individuals developed nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy between 2002 and 2015. Factors that were associated with a new diagnosis of nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy included age (>60 years; hazard ratio [HR] 3.74; 95% CI 1.50 to 9.31) and long-term use of aspirin (HR 1.68; 95% CI 1.09 to 2.61).

“Aspirin did not protect against a first episode of [nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy],” the researchers concluded, adding that “Aspirin users had a higher incidence of [nonarteritic ischemic optic neuropathy], most likely due to unaccounted-for confounders.”

Reference

Modjtahedi, B S, et al. The Relationship Between Aspirin Use and NAION in Men. Poster number: PO252. The American Academy of Ophthalmology Meeting; October 12-15 2019.