Untreated hypertension patients at high risk of open-angle glaucoma

Hypertension (HTN) is associated with open-angle glaucoma (OAG). The question is whether elevated blood pressure (BP) alone is associated with OAG.

There needs to be more research and data on Whether stage 1 hypertension increases the disease risk, as per the 2017 American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) BP guidelines.

The researchers in the present retrospective, observational cohort study investigated the above background, including 360,330 subjects ≥40 years and not taking antihypertensive drugs or antiglaucoma drugs at the time of examinations.

The categories of Subjects were untreated BP, into normal BP (systolic BP (SBP)<120 and diastolic BP (DBP)<80 mmHg; n=104,304), elevated BP (SBP 120-129 and DBP<80mmHg; n=33,139), stage 1 HTN (SBP 130-139 or DBP 80-89 mmHg; n=122,534) or stage 2 HTN (SBP≥140 or DBP≥90mmHg; n=100,353).

The study summary is :

• Among the participants, 56.2 % were male, with a mean age of 51.17±8.97 years.
• The mean follow-up period was 11.76±1.37 years.
• Twelve thousand eight hundred forty-one subjects had OAG.
• Multivariable-adjusted HRs for elevated BP, stage 1 HTN and stage 2 HTN with normal BP as the reference were 1.056, 1.101 and 1.114, respectively.

Concluding further, they said OAG risk increases with increases in untreated BP.

They mentioned Stage 1 HTN as a significant risk factor for OAG. The study has addressed the role of screening and monitoring for glaucoma in those diagnosed with hypertension.

Further reading:

Increased risks of open-angle glaucoma in untreated hypertension. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajo.2023.03.032