Abstract
Purpose: :
To examine the relationship between hypermetropia, axial length and hypertension.
Methods: :
This population–based, cross–sectional study included 1,213 Chinese persons aged 40–81 years. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg, diastolic blood pressure ≥90 mmHg, or self–report history of anti–hypertension treatment. Refraction was determined with an auto–refractor and refined subjectively. Moderate hypermetropia was defined as ≥+2.00 spherical equivalent diopters (D), mild hypermetropia as +0.75 to +1.75 D, emmetropia as –0.50 to +0.50 D, low myopia as –0.75 to –2.75 D, moderate myopia as –3.00 to –5.75 D, and high myopia as ≤–6.00 D. A–mode ultrasound was used to measure axial length.
Results: :
The crude odds ratio of hypertension was 2.5 (95% confidence intervals [CI], 1.4–4.6) for moderate hypermetropia versus high myopia (p trend=0.038), and 1.4 (95% CI 0.9–2.1) for highest versus lowest axial length quintile (p trend=0.043). These associations were no longer significant after adjustment for age, and additionally for gender, education, housing type and income.
Conclusions: :
These data provide no evidence that hypermetropia or shorter axial length is independently associated with hypertension.
Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • hyperopia • perimetry