The Incidence of Glaucoma in Young Adult Glaucoma Suspects

PURPOSE: This study aims to determine the incidence of glaucoma in glaucoma suspects under age 40 who were followed over a 13-year period within a healthcare system. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted using healthcare claims from the U.S. Military Health System Data Repository between fiscal years 2006 and 2007. The study identified 9,783 military health system beneficiaries aged 18-39 diagnosed as glaucoma suspects. Patients were then followed for 13 years. The primary outcome investigated the incidence of glaucoma. A multivariable logistic regression model was conducted to assess demographic risk factors for glaucoma. Secondary outcomes compared mean differences in follow-up visits by demographic factors using a multivariable N-Way ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni test. CONCLUSION: The incidence of glaucoma was 8.9% in young adult glaucoma suspects who were followed over a 13-year period within a single healthcare system. Additional research is needed to determine evidence-based, cost-effective monitoring protocols for adults diagnosed with suspect glaucoma.