OSA increases the risk of retinal vein occlusion in Hispanic/Latino population: Study
A new study published in the journal of Eye showed that in some ethnic groups like the non-Hispanic Whites and Hispanic/Latinos, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) increased the incidence of retinal vein occlusion (RVO).
Obstructive sleep apnea may be a risk factor for retinal vein occlusion, according to recent studies. Thus, this study examined the severity of RVO in individuals with and without OSA and investigated demographic variations in the connection between OSA and RVO.
The aggregated electronic health record data of US patients was analyzed in this retrospective cohort research. RVO-naïve and previous RVO were the baseline RVO statuses used to categorize adults who received ophthalmological care. Sex, race, and ethnicity were used to further stratify the RVO-naïve group. The risk ratio for new RVO diagnoses for RVO-naïve patients and RVO complications or invasive therapies for those with preexisting RVO were assessed by comparing patients with and without OSA within each group.
OSA was linked to a higher incidence of RVO in non-Hispanic White patients (n = 146,124, RR = 1.32, CI = 1.17–1.49), Hispanic/Latino patients (n = 30,898, RR = 1.77, CI = 1.30–2.40), female patients (n = 148,036, RR = 1.28, CI = 1.14–1.45), and male patients (n = 134,348, RR = 1.35, CI = 1.19–1.52). Black patients (n = 57,798, RR = 1.26, CI = 1.05–1.50) had a somewhat higher risk than Asian patients (n = 686, RR = 1.21, CI = 0.71–2.07).
Macular edema (RR = 3.70, CI = 3.17–4.31), vitreous hemorrhage (RR = 2.29, CI = 1.64–3.20), neovascularization (RR = 2.22, CI = 1.69–2.91), and photocoagulation (RR = 1.73, CI = 1.29–2.33) were more common in OSA-afflicted adults with preexisting RVO than in vitrectomy (RR = 1.13, CI = 0.74–1.72).
Overall, the findings from these extensive aggregated EHR data from US patients show that OSA may increase the risk of RVO in both NHW and H/L populations, as well as in males and females. This discovery was more noticeable in people with H/L, highlighting the need for more research on RVO and for eye care professionals to pay close attention to patients with OSA in this demographic. Even while Asian patients who had previously been diagnosed with OSA did not have a higher chance of receiving a new RVO diagnosis, these apparent racial/ethnic disparities require more research.
Reference:
Jeong, H., Shaia, J. K., Kaelber, D. C., Talcott, K. E., & Singh, R. P. (2025). Associations between obstructive sleep apnoea and the development and severity of retinal vein occlusion. Eye, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-03900-4
