RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Prevalence of retinopathy in hypertensive patients
JF Saudi Medical Journal
JO Saudi Med J
FD Prince Sultan Military Medical City
SP 1725
OP 1728
VO 27
IS 11
A1 Mohammad R. Besharati
A1 Abolghasem Rastegar
A1 Mohammad R. Shoja
A1 Mahmood E. Maybodi
YR 2006
UL http://smj.org.sa/content/27/11/1725.abstract
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.