Impact of Metabolic Syndrome on Cataracts: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Metabolic syndrome was significantly associated with cataracts.

• OR of 1.60 (95% CI: 1.44–1.77, I2 = 93%)
• Analysis included 27 studies with a total of 1,010,014 patients (134,498 with cataracts and 875,516 without cataracts)
• The prevalence of cataracts in the included studies was 13.3%
• Studies comprised 2 prospective cohort studies, 6 case-control studies, and 19 cross-sectional studies

Diabetes mellitus was the strongest individual MetS component associated with cataracts among those analyzed.

• OR of 1.77 (95% CI: 1.69–1.85, I2 = 51%)
• This was the highest OR among all individual MetS components examined
• Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 51%)

High BMI was significantly associated with cataracts.

• OR of 1.45 (95% CI: 1.33–1.58, I2 = 80%)
• High heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 80%)
• BMI was analyzed as a MetS component alongside DM, HT, and DLP

Hypertension was significantly associated with cataracts.

• OR of 1.23 (95% CI: 1.19–1.28, I2 = 62%)
• Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 62%)

Dyslipidemia was significantly associated with cataracts.

• OR of 1.38 (95% CI: 1.30–1.46, I2 = 0%)
• No heterogeneity was observed among studies for this component (I2 = 0%)
• This was one of the more consistent findings across studies given the absence of heterogeneity

High total cholesterol was associated with increased odds of cataracts.

• OR of 1.25 (95% CI: 1.04–1.49, I2 = 48%)
• Moderate heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 48%)

High triglycerides were associated with increased odds of cataracts.

• OR of 1.05 (95% CI: 1.04–1.06, I2 = 68%)
• High heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 68%)
• Despite a modest OR, the confidence interval was narrow suggesting precision in the estimate

Low HDL cholesterol was associated with increased odds of cataracts.

• OR of 1.07 (95% CI: 1.01–1.13, I2 = 0%)
• No heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 0%)

High LDL cholesterol was associated with increased odds of cataracts.

• OR of 1.30 (95% CI: 1.10–1.53, I2 = 71%)
• High heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 71%)