Relationship between Optic Disc Hemorrhage and Glaucoma among patients diagnosed with Systemic Hypertension and Diabetes Mellitus: The Colombian Glaucoma Study

Abstract

Introduction: Glaucoma is a leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide; several risk factors have been identified as major underlying causes for developing this condition. Optic disc hemorrhage has been identified as a risk factor for the development and progression of primary open-angle glaucoma, as well it has been related to playing an important role in normal-tension glaucoma. Material and methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in Colombia among hypertensive and diabetic patients. This study included 2,067 subjects older than 50 years who were attended by a group of ophthalmologists in six cities in Colombia who conducted a complete medical and ophthalmological examination and applied standardized questionnaires and interviews aiming to evaluate participant’s health conditions and lifestyles. Results: We found a prevalence of Optic disc hemorrhage (ODH) of 0.4%. ODH presented an OR: 8.82 (95% CI 1.60 - 48.52) for the presence of Glaucoma. Patients diagnosed with systemic hypertension had an OR: 0.02 (95% CI 0.00 - 0.96); Patients with Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Defect (RNFL) presented an OR: 509.40 (95% CI 8.60 - 30152.97) for the presence of ODH and 50% of patients with ODH did not have a diagnosis of glaucoma. Conclusions: Despite the low prevalence of ODH in our study (0.4%), its presence is a High-risk factor for the presence of Glaucoma. RNFL defect is also highly related to ODH and the presence of Glaucoma.