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.