Vascular risk factors for open angle glaucoma in african eyes.

CONTEXT

The exact patho physiological mechanizm of optic nerve damage in glaucoma is not fully understood.

AIM

To assess the vascular risk factors in open angle glaucoma in African eyes.

SETTINGS AND DESIGN

Prospective multicenter hospital-based study in Edo State, Nigeria.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Three hundred and twenty-two glaucoma patients and 184 control subjects were included in the study comprising 200 male glaucoma patients (62.11%) and 122 females (37.89%). A cohort of consecutive patients with a diagnosis of primary open angle glaucoma and age and sex matched control subjects were included in this prospective, cross-sectional, and multicenter hospital-based study conducted during the period January-June 2008. Blood pressure (BP), pulse and intraocular pressure findings were recorded and mean BP, pulse and perfusion pressure for each eye calculated.

STATISTICAL ANALYSIS USED

Mean, standard deviations, 95% confidence intervals, Welch's t test, and Fisher's exact test were calculated.

RESULTS

The mean IOP in the 644 eyes of the 322 glaucoma patients was 22.65 mmHg (SD plus/minus 11.06). The systolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001), diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.0001), mean arterial blood pressure (P < 0.0001), pulse pressure (P < 0.01), systolic perfusion pressure (P < 0.01) were all significantly higher in glaucoma patients than in control.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher systolic, diastolic, mean arterial BP and pulse pressure was found in Black African patients with open angle glaucoma.