To examine the association of physical activity (PA) with glaucoma and related traits; to assess whether genetic predisposition to glaucoma modified these associations; and to probe causal relationships using Mendelian randomization (MR).
UK Biobank participants with data on self-reported or accelerometer-derived PA and intraocular pressure (IOP) (N=94 206 and N=27 777, respectively); macular inner retinal optical coherence tomography (OCT) measures (N = 36 274; N=9 991); and glaucoma status (N= 86 803; N=23 556).
Cross-sectional observational and gene-environment interaction analyses in the UK Biobank. Two-sample MR experiments using summary statistics from large genetic consortia.
We evaluated multivariable-adjusted associations of self-reported (International Physical Activity Questionnaire, IPAQ) and accelerometer-derived PA with IOP and macular inner retinal OCT parameters using linear regression, and with glaucoma status using logistic regression. For all outcomes, we examined gene-PA interactions using a polygenic risk score (PRS) that combined the effects of 2 673 genetic variants associated with glaucoma.
IOP; macular retinal nerve fiber layer (mRNFL) thickness; macular ganglion cell inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness, and glaucoma status.
In multivariable-adjusted regression models, we found no association of PA level or time spent in PA with glaucoma status. Higher overall levels and greater time spent in higher levels of both self-reported and accelerometer-derived PA were positively associated with thicker mGCIPL (P trend <0.001 for each). Compared to the lowest quartile of PA, participants in the highest quartiles of accelerometer-derived moderate and vigorous intensity PA had a thicker mGCIPL(μm) by +0.57 (P<0.001) and +0.42 (P=0.005). No association was found with mRNFL thickness. High overall level of self-reported PA was associated with a modestly higher IOP (mmHg): +0.08(P=0.01) but this was not replicated in the accelerometry data. No associations were modified by a glaucoma PRS, and MR analyses did not support a causal relationship between PA and any glaucoma-related outcome.
Higher overall PA level and greater time spent in moderate and vigorous PA were not associated with glaucoma status but were associated with thicker mGCIPL. Associations with IOP were modest and inconsistent. Despite the well-documented acute reduction in IOP following PA, we found no evidence that high levels of habitual PA are associated with glaucoma status or IOP in the general population.
Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier Inc.
