PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Besharati, Mohammad R.
AU  - Rastegar, Abolghasem
AU  - Shoja, Mohammad R.
AU  - Maybodi, Mahmood E.
TI  - Prevalence of retinopathy in hypertensive patients
DP  - 2006 Nov 01
TA  - Saudi Medical Journal
PG  - 1725--1728
VI  - 27
IP  - 11
4099  - http://smj.org.sa/content/27/11/1725.short
4100  - http://smj.org.sa/content/27/11/1725.full
SO  - Saudi Med J2006 Nov 01; 27
AB  - OBJECTIVE: To determine the prevalence of retinopathy in hypertensive patients referred to a teaching hospital in Yazd, Iran.METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 213 hypertensive patients referring to a teaching hospital in Yazd, Iran between November 2004 and June 2005. Data were collected using a questionnaire after an interview and ocular examination. Demographic variables, hypertensive retinopathy, familial history of hypertension, duration of diagnosis, and other hypertension side effects such as cardiac, renal, cerebro-vascular complications were analyzed. The Scheie's staging system was used for retinopathy grading.RESULTS: A total of 213 patients (95 men, 118 women) with high blood pressure aged between 25 and 85 years (mean age of 64.47 ± 10.66 years) were enrolled in this study, wherein 39.9% of patients suffered from retinopathy. This rate was higher in women (45.6%) than in men (33%). The positive familial history of hypertension was reported in 47.8% of patients. The prevalence rate of retinopathy in patients suffering from mild hypertension was 25.3%, moderate hypertension was 34.5% and severe hypertension 84.6%. Of the patients with retinopathy, 42.36% had grade I, 20% had grade II and 2.35% had grade III retinopathy. The most common ophthalmoscopic findings were arteriolar narrowing (35.13%), arterio-venous nicking (17.12%) and cotton wool patches (9%).CONCLUSION: Positive family history of hypertension and target organs involvement are important risk factors for retinopathy. Early diagnosis and treatment of hypertension to prevent complications is essential.