Exploring the interplay between self‐reported glaucoma, physical shape, and exercise: Findings from a Danish eye and vision cohort – Project forever

Purpose: To investigate the associations between self‐reported glaucoma, intraocular pressure, and self‐reported physical activity and shape in a Danish cohort.

Methods: Questionnaire responses from project FOREVER (Finding Ophthalmic Risk and Evaluating the Value of Eye exams and their predictive Reliability) reported information on age, biological sex, height, weight, intraocular pressure status, smoking habits, physical activity and shape, and eye diseases. Generalized linear regression models were used to examine associations between glaucoma and physical exercise. Associations between intraocular pressure and physical shape or physical exercise were investigated using linear regression models. All models were adjusted for age and sex.

Results: A total of 34,218 subjects were included in the study, predominantly female (62%), with a median age of 57 years (interquartile range 48‐67). Among them, 545 reported having glaucoma. We observed a significant decrease in the odds of having glaucoma among people reporting to be in good physical shape compared to those in moderate shape (Odds ratio (OR) 0.79, 95% CI 0.65‐0.97, p‐value < 0.05). Increased intraocular pressure was associated with increased odds of being in poor (OR 0.13, 95% CI 0.01‐0.25, p‐value < 0.05) or very poor physical shape (OR 0.21, 95% CI 0.01‐0.40, p‐value < 0.05).

Conclusion: Good physical shape was associated with reduced odds of glaucoma whereas increasing intraocular pressure was associated with poor or very poor physical shape. Further research is warranted to elucidate the underlying mechanisms and identify potential preventive interventions, from which patients may benefit.