The Relationship Between Intraocular Pressure and Age, Hypertension and Obesity Index in Ocular Hypertensive Patients

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and age, blood pressure and obesity index inocular hypertensive patients. METHODS: A total of 2684 ocular hypertensive patients underwent automated multi-phasic testing, including fundus photography, blood pressure and assessment of obesity. The subjects were divided into six age groups by decades ranging from 20~29 years to over 70 years of age. The relationships between factors were examined using multiple regression analysis. RESULTS: The mean participant age was 48.0+/-11.0 years, and 1,777 (66.3%) participants were male and 907 (33.7%) were female. The mean intraocular pressure (IOP) was 22.04+/-2.2 mmHg and was significantly higher in males than in females (p=0.023). The IOP was associated with mean blood pressure, gender and obesity index. After adjustment for mean blood pressure and obesity index, the relationship between IOP and age showed a significantly negative tendency (p<0.001). The relationship between IOP and obesity index adjusted for age and mean blood pressure had a significantly positive tendency (p<0.001), regardless of gender. The relationship between IOP and mean blood pressure adjusted for age and obesity index showed a significantly positive tendency (p=0.00014). CONCLUSIONS: IOP was associated with the mean blood pressure and obesity index. Regardless of gender, IOP decreased with age but increased with hypertension. It is necessary to check IOP regularly, especially in ocular hypertensive patients with systemic hypertension.