HPV infection may elevate glaucoma risk

Infection with the human papillomavirus (HPV) appears to increase the risk of developing glaucoma, a recent study has shown.

A total of 451,288 participants were included in this retrospective cohort study. The authors identified adults aged ≥18 years with a diagnosis of HPV from the TriNetX research network and matched them to individuals without HPV based on demographics, comorbidities, and healthcare use patterns. They performed propensity score matching to balance the baseline characteristics.

Hazard ratios (HRs) for incident glaucoma were estimated using Cox proportional hazard models. Finally, sensitivity analyses and subgroup stratifications were carried out to assess robustness.

HPV infection showed a significant association with a 34-percent higher risk of glaucoma (HR, 1.34, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.28–1.141). Increased risks were noted for both open-angle (HR, 1.33, 95 percent CI, 1.16–1.52) and angle-closure glaucoma (HR, 1.66, 95 percent CI, 1.20–2.30).

This association was more noticeable among older adults, men, and Asians. Such risk was further amplified by comorbidities, including hypertension, diabetes, and myopia. Furthermore, these results persisted across sensitivity analyses.

“Although these findings highlight a potential need for increased ophthalmologic surveillance in HPV-positive individuals, the possibility of surveillance bias, in which individuals with HPV may receive more frequent health care and eye examinations, cannot be excluded,” the authors said. 

“Further studies are warranted to explore causal mechanisms and control for potential confounding,” they added.