Hypertension in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma

Abstract

Introduction: The impact of vascular factors in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma is debated. Some reports have shown high blood pressure in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma, some low systolic blood pressure and some described no difference in blood pressure between Primary Open Angle Glaucoma and controls. However decreased ocular perfusion pressure was found in most of the studies. Our study aims to assess the role of hypertension in Primary Open Angle Glaucoma. Methods: It was cross-sectional case-control hospital based study carried out from 1st June 2012 to 1st June 2013. There were 40 cases and 100 controls included in the study. The role of hypertension were compared with those hypertensive patients with glaucoma (cases) and hypertensive patients without glaucoma (controls). Results: Age above 50 years (odds ratio: 4.827 with 95% CI 1.862-12.517), male genders (odds ratio: 3.10 with 95% CI 1.356-7.146) and low diastolic perfusion pressure (odds ratio: 3.857 with 95% CI 1.362-11.224) showed strongly positive association with POAG. High systolic blood pressure (odds ratio: 1.476 95% CI 0.627-3.476), high diastolic blood pressure (odds ratio: 1.348 95% CI 0.587-3.096) and low systolic perfusion pressure (odds ratio: 1.8661 with 95% CI 0.649-5.335) were weakly associated with glaucoma in our study. Conclusions: Age above 50 years, male gender and low diastolic perfusion pressure were strong risk factor for the development of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma.