The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2): Study Design and Baseline Characteristics (AREDS2 Report Number 1)

Abstract

Purpose

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) demonstrated beneficial effects of oral supplementation with antioxidant vitamins and minerals on the development of advanced age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in persons with at least intermediate AMD (bilateral large drusen with or without pigment changes). Observational data suggest that other oral nutrient supplements might further reduce the risk of progression to advanced AMD.

The primary purpose of Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of lutein+zeaxanthin (L+Z) and/or omega-3 long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acid (LCPUFA) supplementation in reducing the risk of developing advanced AMD. The study will also assess the reduction in zinc and the omission of beta-carotene from original AREDS formulation.

Design

Multicenter phase 3 randomized controlled clinical trial

Participants

Persons age 50 to 85 with bilateral intermediate AMD or advanced AMD in one eye

Methods

All participants were randomly assigned to: 1) placebo (n=1012); 2) L+Z (10 mg/2 mg, n=1044); 3) ω-3 LCPUFAs (eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) + docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) [650gmg/350 mg] n=1069); or 4) the combination of L+Z and ω -3 LCPUFAs (n=1078). All participants were offered a secondary randomization to 1 of 4 variations of the original AREDS formulation keeping vitamins C (500 mg), E (400 IU), and copper (2 mg) unchanged while varying zinc and beta-carotene as follows: zinc remains at the original level (80mg), lower only zinc to 25mg, omit beta-carotene only, or lower zinc to 25 mg and omit beta-carotene.

Main Outcome Measures

Progression to advanced AMD determined by centralized grading of annual fundus photographs.

Results

4,203 participants were enrolled at 82 clinical centers located in the U.S. Population characteristics at baseline were as follows: mean age 74 years, 57% female, 97% white, 7% current smokers, 19% with prior cardiovascular disease and 44% and 50% taking statin-class cholesterol lowering drugs and aspirin, respectively. Ocular characteristics include 59% with bilateral large drusen, 32% with advanced AMD in one eye and mean visual acuity of 20/32 in eyes without advanced AMD.

Conclusion

This report presents the AREDS2 study design and the participants’ baseline demographic and ocular characteristics.

INTRODUCTION

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and cataract contribute a substantial burden to society as major causes of visual impairment. The Eye Disease Prevalence Research Group estimates that, of the approximately 937,000 legally blind people residing in the United States (US) in 2000, approximately 841,000 (90%) are aged 60 years or older.¹ Demographic shifts in longevity will continue to increase the prevalence of age-related eye diseases in the US and other economically developed nations. A 50% increase in the number of US residents aged 65 years and older is projected to occur in the next 20 years, by the year 2020.¹

Effective preventive therapies could reduce the enormous burden of age-related eye diseases. AMD and cataract are the major causes of visual disability in the United States, and AMD accounts for more than 50% of all blindness. Approximately 1.2 million persons in 2000 in the U.S. are estimated to have neovascular AMD and 970,000 to have geographic atrophy, while over 8 million have at least large drusen in one eye and 3.6 million of these have bilateral large drusen.² Without methods to slow AMD progression over the next 20 years, these prevalence figures are expected to increase by approximately 50%. Currently, cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries conducted in the US.³ The prevalence of age-related cataract is rising, with a prediction that 30 million Americans will be affected by 2020, increasing the public health and economic burden of this disease.⁴

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS), an NEI-sponsored, multi-center, controlled, randomized clinical trial, demonstrated that the combination of oral supplements consisting of antioxidant vitamins C (500 mg), E (400 international units), and β-carotene (15 mg) and minerals, zinc (80 mg of zinc oxide) with copper (2mg cupric oxide), reduced the 5-year risk of developing advanced AMD in eyes with intermediate AMD by 25% (estimated probability of progression was 28% for placebo versus 20% for antioxidants plus zinc).⁵ Therapy with the AREDS formulation reduced the risk of moderate vision loss (≥15 letters on the logarithmic visual acuity chart) by 19% at 5 years (estimated probability of progression was 29% for placebo versus 23% for antioxidants plus zinc). The AREDS formulation had neither a harmful nor beneficial effect on the development or progression of cataract.⁶

Observational data from AREDS, other epidemiologic studies and animal studies, provide a rationale for examining the potential impact of other nutrients on the treatment of AMD. Results of various observational studies suggest that higher intake of lutein+zeaxanthin is associated with a decreased risk of cataract development^7–12 and a decreased risk of progressing to advanced AMD.^13–19 Epidemiologic studies and observational data suggest that increased dietary intake of the ω-3 LCPUFAs, and fish products, is associated with a reduced risk of advanced AMD, both in prevalent and incident cases of advanced AMD.^20–28

Lutein and zeaxanthin are components of human macular pigment, and they are found throughout the retina.²⁹ Macular pigment is hypothesized to enhance retinal membrane stability, act as a short-wavelength light filter, modulate intra- and extracellular reduction-oxidation (redox) balance, and possibly modulate signal transduction pathways.^{30, 31}

Lutein and zeaxanthin are the only carotenoids detected in the human lens.³² Lutein has been also identified in the lens of quail³³ and appears to have an effect on cataract development in a diabetic rat model.³⁴ In vitro testing with lutein and zeaxanthin appear to have also a protective effect for lens fibers.³⁵

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) is the major structural omega-3 LCPUFA of retinal photoreceptor outer segment membranes.^{36, 37} DHA, its precursor eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), and their metabolites may have the capacity to help regulate gene expression, cell signaling and survival pathways, as well as modulate immune and inflammatory processes implicated in the pathogenesis of retinal vascular and neural cell disease.³⁸

The Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) is designed primarily to evaluate the effects of these nutrients on the progression of AMD and, secondarily, age-related cataracts. This report presents the study design and the baseline characteristics of the cohort.

METHODS

The primary objective of AREDS2 is to evaluate the effect of dietary xanthophylls (lutein+zeaxanthin) with and without omega-3 LCPUFAs (DHA+EPA) on progression to advanced AMD. The study enrolled 4,203 participants aged 50 to 85 years with sufficiently clear media for quality fundus photographs and either: 1) bilateral large drusen or 2) large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD (neovascular AMD or central geographic atrophy) in the fellow eye. Participants will be followed for an average of 5 years. In addition to this primary objective, AREDS2 is also assessing modifications of the original AREDS formulation. Treatment with the AREDS formulation was recommended for AREDS2 participants because they all have intermediate AMD (bilateral large drusen) or advanced AMD in one eye. Since beta-carotene might increase the risk of lung cancer in cigarette smokers,^{39, 40} and beta-carotene was included in the formulation because lutein and zeaxanthin were not commercially available at the start of the original AREDS, we developed a version of the AREDS formulation without beta-carotene. The amount of zinc included in the original AREDS formulation was 80 mg. The tolerable upper level of daily zinc intake is 40 mg.⁴¹ At the AREDS Nutritional Workshop meeting conducted prior to the start of AREDS, experts preferred a lower dose of zinc, but the higher dose was chosen by the National Eye Institute because it was the dose shown to be effective in the only then existing trial demonstrating efficacy.⁴² In an attempt to evaluate a lower dose of zinc we developed a version of the AREDS formulation with 25 mg of zinc.⁴³ AREDS2 is studying these two different formulations through a factorial design (Table 1) for those who were willing to participate in a secondary randomization. Some participants opted out of the secondary randomization to the AREDS formulation comparisons and continued to take the original AREDS formulation. Participants, investigators, study coordinators, and all other study personnel are masked to treatment assignment in both the primary and secondary randomizations.

Table 1.

Secondary Randomization Agents (Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS)-Type Supplement)

Formulations	Vitamin C (mg)	Vitamin E (IU)	Beta Carotene (mg)	Zinc Oxide (mg)	Cupric Oxide (mg)
1	500	400	15	80	2
2	500	400	0	80	2
3	500	400	15	25	2
4	500	400	0	25	2

The components and the manufacturing details of the study medications including the placebos for both randomization schemes are described in Appendix 2 (available at http://aaojournal.org).

STUDY POPULATION

Participant eligibility

Enrollment was restricted to people determined to be at high risk of progression to advanced AMD with either bilateral large drusen or non-foveal geographic atrophy (no advanced AMD) or large drusen or non-foveal geographic atrophy in one eye and advanced AMD in the fellow eye (AREDS Simple Scale Score of 2, 3 or 4).⁴⁴ Potential participants between the ages of 50 and 85 years were evaluated for eligibility at a qualification visit. Run-in medication (study placebo) was administered to all potential subjects to determine the likelihood of adherence to the study regimen. Participants were then randomized to the study medications at the randomization visit (within 3 months of the qualification visit) if they took at least 75% of study medication during the run-in phase.

Eligible participants: 1) were able and willing to consent to both the qualification and the randomization/follow-up phases of the study; 2) were likely, willing and able to undergo yearly examinations for at least five years; 3) agreed to stop current use of supplements containing lutein, zeaxanthin, omega-3 LCPUFAs (specifically DHA+EPA), vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene, zinc or copper, other than those supplied by AREDS2; 4) demonstrated adherence to the run-in regimen (consumption of at least 75 percent of run-in medication as determined by pill count or pill weight); 5) had fundus photographs of adequate quality as assessed with a standardized protocol by the Reading Center (University of Wisconsin Fundus Photograph Reading Center); and 6) were randomized within three months following the qualification visit. Exclusion criteria included: 1) the presence of ocular disease in either eye that may have confounded evaluation of the retina; 2) previous retinal or other ocular surgical procedures (other than cataract extraction) that may have complicated assessment of the progression of AMD; 3) a chronic requirement for any systemic or ocular medication administered for other diseases and known to be toxic to the retina or optic nerve; 4) previous daily supplementation with 2mg or more of lutein and/or 500 mg or more of omega-3 LCPUFAs for a period of 1 year or more prior to the date of randomization (A participant was eligible for the study if he/she agreed to stop taking these supplements during the study run-in period); 5) intraocular pressure of 26 mm Hg or higher or some reason to believe that the participant might have glaucoma; and 6) cataract surgery within 3 months or capsulotomy within 6 weeks prior to the qualification visit. Other exclusion criteria included: history of lung cancer; any systemic disease with a poor five-year survival prognosis; hemochromatosis; Wilson’s disease, or recent diagnosis of oxalate kidney stones; any condition that would make adherence or follow-up difficult or unlikely; current participation in other studies that might affect adherence to the AREDS2 follow-up schedule; or use of systemic anti-angiogenic therapy for treatment of choroidal neovascularization or cancer. At study inception, fundus photographs were not reviewed prior to randomization; however, after approximately 2000 subjects were randomized, the Reading Center determined that just over 300 enrolled participants did not meet ocular eligibility requirements. Thereafter, study procedures included confirmation of eligibility by the Reading Center prior to randomization.

Study supplements

Study participants were randomly assigned to take one of the following study supplements daily: 1) placebo; 2) lutein+zeaxanthin (10 mg/2mg); 3) DHA+EPA (350 mg/650 mg); or 4) lutein+zeaxanthin (10mg/2mg) and DHA+EPA (350mg/650mg). (Figure 1) All participants were offered the AREDS formulation. Those who agreed to take the AREDS formulation and consented to a second randomization were randomly assigned to receive one of four alternative AREDS formulations (see Table 1). Note that this second-tier randomization does not include placebo because for these participants AREDS supplements are considered standard of care. Participants who were current smokers or former smokers who had stopped smoking within the year prior to enrollment were randomly assigned to one of the two arms without beta-carotene (Formulations 2 or 4). AREDS supplements were provided for those participants who were not current or former smokers within the past year and did not consent to this secondary randomization but elected to take the original AREDS supplements. All participants taking a daily multivitamin supplement were required to replace it with Centrum Silver^®, which was provided to them.

Figure 1.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Study Design

^aDHA and EPA: docosahexanoic acid and eicosapentaneoic acid

^bAREDS Supplements: vitamins C (500 mg), E (400 international units), beta carotene (15 mg), zinc (oxide 80 mg) and copper (cupric oxide 2 mg)

^cβ-Carotene: beta-carotene (smokers were randomly assigned to one of these two groups with no beta-carotene in the formulation)

Enrollment, randomization and follow-up

A random block design was implemented using the AREDS2 Advantage Electronic Data Capture system (AdvantageEDC^SM) by the AREDS2 Coordinating Center (The EMMES Corporation, Rockville, Maryland) and stratified by clinical center and AMD status (large drusen both eyes or large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the fellow eye) to assure approximate balance across centers over time. In-clinic follow-up visits are scheduled annually post-randomization. Telephone contacts are scheduled at three- and six-months post-randomization and annually thereafter, starting at 18 months post-randomization. Telephone contacts are primarily used to collect information about adverse events.

At baseline and at each annual study visit, participants received a comprehensive eye exam including best-corrected visual acuity obtained with the electronic version of the ETDRS visual acuity charts. Certified photographers obtain stereoscopic fundus photographs of the macula and optic nerve and masked graders use a standard protocol to grade the photographs.

All enrolled participants will be followed until November 2012 allowing for a median of 5 years of follow-up or until the Data and Safety Monitoring Committee (DSMC) has recommended earlier trial termination.

OUTCOMES

The primary purpose of the study is a comparison of the three active treatment arms to placebo on progression to advanced AMD based on reading center grading of color stereoscopic fundus photographs in study eyes. Advanced AMD is defined as atrophic or neovascular changes of AMD that include one or more of the following: 1) definite geographic atrophy involving the center of the macula (minimum diameter for a patch of atrophy to be classified as geographic is 360 µM), 2) evidence suggesting choroidal neovascularization, defined as at least two of the following characteristics of CNV lesions: serous detachment of the sensory retina, hemorrhage, retinal pigment epithelial detachment (non-drusenoid type), fibrous tissue, or hard exudate. In addition, an eye is defined to have developed advanced AMD if the reading center identifies a definite disciform scar, or if there is a history of treatments for AMD (e.g., anti-angiogenic therapy, photodynamic therapy, laser photocoagulation, etc.). Although the primary outcome was determined on color fundus photography, when available, fluorescein angiography and OCT images are sent to the Reading Center to confirm the presence of neovascular AMD.

Secondary analyses include comparison of the three active treatment arms to placebo on 1) the progression to moderate vision loss (a 15-letter or greater loss); 2) the progression of lens opacity based on photography or incidence of cataract surgery; and 3) moderate vision loss or improvement in participants with advanced AMD. The secondary randomization allows the assessment of: 4) the effect of eliminating beta-carotene in the original AREDS formulation on the progression and development of AMD; 5) the effect of reducing zinc from 80 mg in the original AREDS formulation to 25 mg on the progression and development of AMD; 6) the effect of eliminating beta-carotene in the original AREDS formulation on moderate vision loss; and 7) the effect of reducing zinc in the original AREDS formulation on moderate vision loss.

PRIMARY ANALYSIS

The primary efficacy outcome, time to progression to advanced AMD, will be assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model without adjustment for covariates. The Cox proportional hazards modeling using the Wei, Lin and Weissfeld method for obtaining robust variance estimates allowing for dependence among multiple event times will be used to assess the treatment effect.⁴⁵ The Cox proportional hazards model will be used to compute hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the 3 active treatment arms with respect to the placebo arm. Secondary efficacy variables will be analyzed in the same fashion as the primary efficacy outcome. Sensitivity analysis will be performed with covariate adjustment. Potential covariates include baseline AMD status, clinical site, participant’s age and gender.

SECONDARY OUTCOME ANALYSES

Analyses of secondary efficacy outcomes will be conducted for confirmation of treatment effects. Analyses of each secondary outcomes listed below may be adjusted for baseline levels of covariates.

Effect of the Primary Randomization Supplements on Progression to Moderate Vision Loss

A time-based outcome of losing or not losing at least 15 letters from baseline in study eyes with at least 20/32 vision (74 letters) at baseline will be analyzed. A Cox proportional hazards model will be used to estimate the hazard ratios along with 95% CIs of the three treatment arms with respect to the placebo arm.

Effect of the Primary Randomization Supplements on Progression of Lens Opacity

A time-based outcome of progression of lens opacity [defined as a 10% increase from baseline of cortical opacity or a 5% increase in posterior subcapsular (PSC) or cataract surgery] will be analyzed. The model will be used to estimate the hazard ratios along with 95% CIs of the three treatment arms with respect to the placebo arm.

Effect of the Primary Randomization Supplements on Vision

Figures and tables (e.g., mean changes in visual acuity throughout follow-up with CIs) will summarize the mean visual acuity change at each study visit by treatment arm. The mean change in visual acuity at each study visit will be compared among the four arms using a generalized linear model along with the generalized estimating equation (GEE) methodology.

Time-based binary outcomes of vision loss (e.g., 10-letter loss: 0-no or 1-yes) and moderate vision improvement (e.g., 5-letter improvement: 0-no or 1-yes) will be analyzed. Cox proportional hazards models will be used to estimate the hazard ratios of the three treatment arms with respect to the placebo arm.

Effect of the Variations of the AREDS Supplements on Progression to Advanced AMD

A time-based outcome of progression to advanced AMD will be analyzed using a Cox proportional hazards model. Separate models of the main effects (beta-carotene versus no beta-carotene and zinc versus reduced zinc) will be used. Hazard ratios of the beta-carotene and zinc main effects will be estimated.

Effect of the Variations of the AREDS Supplements on Progression to Moderate Vision Loss

The analysis will be similar to the analyses described above using a time-based outcome of progression to moderate vision loss.

SAMPLE SIZE AND POWER CALCULATIONS

Power for AREDS2 is based on the primary objective: to assess the effect of lutein+zeaxanthin and/or DHA+EPA supplementation on the progression to advanced AMD with an average of 5 years of follow-up. Assumptions for the power calculations are based on the following. The 5-year progression rates to advanced AMD for AREDS participants with either bilateral large drusen or large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the second eye were 27.7% and 48.7%, respectively; for participants assigned to placebo and 22.4% and 37.5%, respectively; for participants assigned to the active arms. The AREDS formulation was associated with a 25% reduction to advanced AMD compared with placebo. AREDS2 is powered to assess a similar further reduction in the treatment arms compared with the control arm, which would be considered clinically important. Weighted 5-year rates of progression were computed for the primary AREDS2 outcome assuming that 60% of the enrolled participants will have bilateral large drusen and 40% of the participants will have large drusen in one eye and advanced AMD in the fellow eye. Assuming this patient population, the 5-year weighted progression rate to advanced AMD is estimated to be approximately 36%. Thus assuming a 25% treatment effect in each of the treatment arms, the 5-year weighted progression rates to advanced AMD in these treated groups is estimated to be approximately 28%.

To compute the necessary sample size, adjustments were made for projected deaths and losses to follow-up. In AREDS the mortality rate over the first five years was 6%, which was used as the projected death rate for AREDS2. While only 1.3% of the AREDS population was lost to follow-up, we assumed a conservative estimate of a 15% loss to follow-up rate in AREDS2. 4,000 participants will provide adequate power (at least 90%) to detect a 25-percent reduction in the progression to advanced AMD comparing the placebo group with each of the treatment groups.

Ancillary Studies

Ancillary studies are also conducted to evaluate the role of the AREDS2 nutritional supplements on cardiovascular disease and cognitive function. Blood is drawn from consenting participants for DNA production and storage as part of the AREDS2 genetics biorepository. A number of ancillary studies of imaging including fundus autofluorescence (FAF), wide-angle fundus photographs, and spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) are being collected from a large number of AREDS2 participants. These studies are designed to provide longitudinal data on the progression of AMD using these imaging modalities. The AREDS2 study visits are scheduled for completion by the end of 2012.

RESULTS

Enrollment began in October 2006 and continued through September 2008 at the 82 clinical sites across the US. Each clinical center received Institutional Review Board approval of the protocol prior to initiating the study. The sites were chosen to achieve a balance of academic and community-based practices with wide variation of geographic location in order to obtain greater generalizability of the study results. After signing informed consent forms, 5,178 potential participants underwent qualification visits and 4,203 participants were randomized into the clinical trial, while 975 participants (19%) were found to be ineligible for randomization. The primary reasons for ineligibility were patient refusal for the randomization (25%), patient refusal for the study in general (19%), patient wish to take other oral supplements including the study supplements (8%), and ineligibility as determined by the reading center (25%). Approximately 8% of participants did not qualify for the study because they did not meet the requirement of having at least 75% adherence with the run-in supplements. Of the 4,203 randomized participants, 4,188 were included for the AMD trial (at least one study eye without advanced AMD) and 3,159 were eligible for the cataract trial (phakic in at least one eye). A total of 3,036 participants agreed to the secondary randomization evaluating different AREDS supplements. Of the remaining participants, 1,148 chose to take the commercial AREDS formulation and 19 chose to take no AREDS-type supplements at baseline.

Baseline characteristics of the AREDS2 cohort are provided in Table 2. Of the randomized participants, 4,056 (97%) are Caucasian and 2,383 (57%) are female. The median age is 74 years. Seven percent are current smokers while 49% are former smokers. Just over 65% had more than a high school education. A large percentage of participants (89%) were provided Centrum Silver^® at study entry.

Table 2.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Participant Baseline Characteristics

		Total
AREDS2 Participant Baseline Characteristics		N=4203 N (%)
RACE	White	4059 (96.6)
	Black or African American	53 (1.3)
	Asian	34 (0.8)
	American Indian	6 (0.1)
	Asian Pacific Islander and other	51 (1.2)
HISPANIC ORIGIN	Hispanic Origin	85 (2.0)
AGE AT RANDOMIZATION	Median Age (yr)	74.0
AGE AT RANDOMIZATION (%)	< 55 yrs	83 (2.0)
	55 to 65 yrs	601 (14.3)
	65 to 75 yrs	1542 (36.7)
	75 to 80 yrs	1113 (26.5)
	≥ 80 yrs	864 (20.6)
FEMALE GENDER		2383 (56.7)
MARITAL STATUS	Married	2753 (65.5)
	Divorced	431 (10.3)
	Widowed	846 (20.1)
	Never Married	173 (4.1)
EDUCATION	Grade 11 or Less	274 (6.5)
	High School Graduate	1065 (25.3)
	Some College or Associate's Degree	1142 (27.2)
	Bachelor's Degree	781 (18.6)
	Post-graduate Work	864 (20.6)
	Refused to Answer	77 (1.8)
DIABETIC		546 (13.0)
INSULIN USE		79 (14.4)
SMOKING STATUS	Never Smoked	1858 (44.2)
	Former Smoker	2062 (49.1)
	Current Smoker	283 (6.7)
CENTRUM USE		3726 (88.7)
STATIN CLASS CHOLESTEROL LOWERING DRUG USE		1850 (44.0)
NSAID* USE		458 (10.9)
ACETAMINOPHEN USE		386 (9.2)
ASPIRIN USE	No	2158 (51.3)
	Yes, less than 2 per day	1994 (47.4)
	Yes, 2 or more per day	51 (1.2)

^*NSAID: Non-Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drug

The majority of AREDS2 participants were classified as having bilateral large drusen/non-central geographic atrophy (59%). Most of the other participants had advanced AMD and large drusen in the fellow eye (32%), but based upon a detailed grading by the reading center, 367 (9%) did not meet the protocol ocular eligibility criteria (Table 3). During early stages of recruitment, participant eligibility was not based on reading center review. This changed midway through recruitment, but during the period prior to reading center review, 74 participants were entered with less than large drusen in both eyes, 160 participants were entered with unilateral large drusen, 160 participants were entered with advanced AMD in one eye and less than large drusen in the fellow eye, and 15 participants had advanced AMD in both eyes. Most participants (84%) have an AREDS Simple Scale score⁴³ of at least 3 or more at baseline and over 98% had at least AREDS Simple Scale score of 2.

Table 3.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Participant Retinal Characteristics

Retinal Characteristics
Drusen/Age-Related Macular Degeneration Status
Participants with at least large drusen or advanced AMD
Large Drusen both eyesa		2484 (59.1)
Advanced age-related macular degeneration in non-study eye, large drusen in study eyeb		1360 (32.4)
Large drusen, ungradable photo in fellow eye		2 (0)
Participants with less than large drusen in both eyes or in study eye
Less than large drusen in both eyes		74 (1.8)
Large drusen in one eye, less than large drusen fellow eyec		160 (3.8)
Advanced age-related macular degeneration in non-study eye, less than large drusen in study eye		108 (2.6)
Ineligible participants
Advanced age-related macular degeneration in both eyes		15 (0.3)
Total participants		4203
Age-Related Macular Degeneration Status by patient using Age-Related Eye Disease Study (AREDS) Simple Scale Score
0		10 (0.2)
1		62 (1.5)
2		632 (15.1)
3		1108 (26.5)
4		2374 (57.7)
Total participants		4186d

^a24 participants with questionable neovascularization (1 neovascular lesion out of the following potential lesions: serous detachment of the sensory retina, hemorrhage, retinal pigment epithelial detachment (non-drusenoid type), fibrous tissue, or hard exudate) in one eye and 2 participants with bilateral questionable neovascularization

^b15 participants with questionable neovascularization in one eye

^c3 participants with questionable neovascularization in one eye

^dMissing are: 15 participants with bilateral neovascular AMD and 2 with ungradable fundus photographs

For participants with bilateral large drusen, both eyes are eligible as study eyes because both have the potential to develop advanced AMD. In participants with advanced AMD in one eye at baseline, the eye without advanced AMD is the “study” eye. All eyes with advanced AMD are considered “non-study” eyes.

At baseline, 1,050 (25%) participants were pseudophakic/aphakic in both eyes, while 280 (7%) were pseudophakic/aphakic in one eye. Approximately 56% of participants had at least one eye without cortical opacity present, and 71% of eyes had at least one eye without PSC opacity (Table 4).

Table 4.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (ARED2) Participant Lens Characteristics

Lens Characteristics
Phakic in both eyes	2878 (68.5)
Pseudophakic/Aphakic in one eye	281 (6.7)
Pseudophakic/Aphakic in both eyes	1044 (24.8)
Cortical Opacities on Photographs
Absent/Questionable in both eyes	1625 (39)
Absent/Questionable in one eyee	722 (17)
Present in one eyee	138 (3)
Present in both eyes	642 (15)
Cannot Grade/Pseudophakic/Aphakic in both eyes	1076 (26)
Posterior Subcapsular Opacities on Photographs
Absent/Questionable in both eyes	2587 (61)
Absent/Questionable in one eye1	432 (10)
Present in one eye1	41 (1)
Present in both eyes	66 (2)
Cannot Grade/Pseudophakic/Aphakic in both eyes	1077 (26)

¹Ungradable/Pseudopakic/Aphakic in fellow eye

The mean ± standard deviation (SD) visual acuity for the study eyes without advanced AMD was 78 ± 13 letters (approximately 20/32 Snellen equivalent) and for non-study eyes was 46 ± 28 letters (approximately 20/125 Snellen equivalent). The distribution of the visual acuity for study and non-study eyes by visual acuity category is provided in Table 5.

Table 5.

Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Baseline Visual Acuity by Study and Non-Study Eyes

		Study Eyes	Non-Study Eyes
		N=7088 N (%)	N=1300 N (%)
Visual Acuity Status	20/20 or better	2608 (36.8)	73 (5.6)
	< 20/20 to 20/40	3602 (50.8)	328 (25.2)
	< 20/40 – 20/80	606 (8.6)	236 (18.2)
	< 20/80 – 20/160	106 (1.5)	160 (12.3)
	20/200 or worse	166 (2.3)	503 (38.7)

DISCUSSION

This randomized controlled clinical trial is designed to evaluate the role of macular xanthophylls and omega-3 LCPUFAs on the progression of age-related macular degeneration and, secondarily, progression of cataract. The secondary randomization was successful in enrolling a large fraction of the AREDS2 participants, providing the opportunity to assess the effect of removing beta-carotene from the AREDS formulation and to assess the effect of lowering zinc.

The AREDS2 study population (median age 74 years) is older at baseline than the AREDS population (median age 69 years) was partly because the AREDS2 population includes only persons at high risk for developing advanced AMD. The participants with no or early AMD found in AREDS tended to be younger than those with AMD. In both studies, approximately 96% of the study populations are white. There are similar proportions of women (57%) and smokers (7%) in both studies. In contrast, 44% of the AREDS2 participants are taking a statin-class cholesterol lowering drug while only 9% of the AREDS participants were taking this class of drugs. This reflects the change in clinical practice over time. The rate of diabetes is higher in the AREDS2 participants (13%) compared with the AREDS population (6%). Approximately 45% of the AREDS2 study population and 32% of the AREDS population achieved an educational level of at least a bachelor’s degree. These differences may be related to the older population of the AREDS2 cohort.

How representative is the AREDS2 population of those who are affected with AMD and how generalizable will the study results be? As with all controlled clinical trials, it is important to conduct a trial that will give a valid conclusion and this often includes a population with very specific inclusion and exclusion criteria that ensures good compliance with both the treatments as well as the follow-up. This tends to decrease the generalizability to a broadly defined population. However, these results will be clinically important for most persons who are at risk for developing AMD. The data will likely be reported in 2013.