Abstract
Purpose: :
To determine the prevalence and associations of retinal vein occlusion among Latinos of Mexican–American ancestry.
Methods: :
The LALES is a population–based prevalence study of eye disease among Latinos aged 40 years and older. Participants underwent a standardized interview and detailed eye examination including dilated stereophotography. The diagnosis of retinal vein occlusion was made from photographic grading by masked trained graders. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure (SBP) >140mmHg +/– diastolic blood pressure (DBP) > = 90mmHg. Frequency distributions were used to calculate age and gender specific prevalences. Univariate and multivariate regression methods were used to identify independent factors associated with retinal vein occlusion.
Results: :
Gradable retinal photographs were available in 6002 participants. The mean age of the participants was 55 years and 58% were female. Overall, retinal vein occlusion was present in 58 participants (1.0%), and was bilateral in 2 of the 58 participants (3.4%). The age–specific prevalences of retinal vein occlusion were 0.2% in those aged 40–49 years, 0.8% in 50–59 years, 2.1% in 60–69 years, 2.3% in 70–70 years and 1.5% in those 80 years and older. There was no significant sex–related difference in prevalence, p=0.45. Using step–wise multivariable regression, independent factors associated with retinal vein occlusion included age, (OR: 4.2 (95% CI: 1.4–12.8) in 50–59,OR: 11.2 (95% CI: 3.8, 32.4) in 60–69, OR 11.4 (95% CI: 3.6, 35.5) in 70–79, OR 7.3 (95% CI: 1.3, 40.7) in 80–89 year olds, p<0.0001) and hypertension (OR: 1.8, p<0.003). Smoking, alcohol consumption, diabetes and history of cardiovascular disease were not independently associated with retinal vein occlusion.
Conclusions: :
The LALES provides important data on the prevalence of retinal vein occlusion among Latinos derived from a population based study. These findings confirm older age and hypertension as the most important risk factors for retinal vein occlusion. Blood pressure control should be considered in preventing morbidity associated with retinal vein occlusion.
Keywords: vascular occlusion/vascular occlusive disease • retina