Murugesan Raju, Matthew Chisholm, Abu Saleh Mohammad Mosa, Chi-Ren Shyu4 and Frederick W Fraunfelder*
Title: Investigating Risk Factors for Cataract Using the Cerner Health Facts® Database
Background: A retrospective study was performed using the Cerner Health Facts® database, a HIPAA compliant and deidentified database, to evaluate risk factors associated with cataract.
Methods and Findings: Using ICD-9 codes, a study group population was determined by selecting all patients in the database who visited the eye clinic. A data-driven approach was used to select multiple variables and odds ratio analysis was performed to determine the association of the risk factors with cataract formation. Odds ratio analysis indicated that 7 variables out of 18 were at a 20% or higher odds for developing of cataract. These include gentamicin, hypertension, lipid metabolism disorder, obesity, steroids and type-two diabetes and lacrimal disorder.
Conclusion: This is the first study to show a link between lacrimal disorders and the development of cataract.
