Baseline Characteristics of Black and Hispanic Patients With Glaucoma and Glaucoma Suspect

Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose:To report the differences at baseline in demographic, medical and ophthalmic characteristics between Black and Hispanic patients diagnosed with glaucoma and glaucoma suspect. Methods:A retrospective analysis of patients initially presenting to the Eye Care Center at King/Drew Medical Center was performed. One hundred and ninety eight charts were screened. A total of 43 glaucoma patients and 47 glaucoma suspects were identified. Baseline demographic, medical, and ophthalmic characteristics were abstracted and analyzed. Results:Of the 90 patients identified, 38 were Hispanic and 52 were Black. Forty–three (45.3%) were diagnosed with glaucoma and 47 (49.5%) as glaucoma suspect. Among the Black patients, 26 (50%) were diagnosed as glaucoma and 26 (50%) as glaucoma suspect. Among Hispanic patients, 17 (44.7%) were diagnosed with glaucoma and 21 (55.3%) as glaucoma suspect. Overall, the mean age was 55.9 years (±13.8 SD) and 55.3 years (±12.0 SD) for Blacks and Hispanics, respectively. The prevalence of systemic hypertension and diabetes did not vary significantly between Hispanics and Blacks (p>0.05). Visual acuity, mean refractive error and cup to disc ratio did not vary significantly between the Hispanic and Black groups (p>0.05). Hispanic patients diagnosed with glaucoma had significantly higher intraocular pressure (IOP) [24.5 mmHg] compared to Hispanic glaucoma suspects (16.1 mmHg). There was no significant difference in IOP between glaucoma patients (18.9 mmHg) and glaucoma suspects (16.8 mmHg) in the Black group (p>0.05). The mean deviation (MD) and pattern standard deviation (PSD) of Hispanic patients with glaucoma compared to Hispanic glaucoma suspects was not significantly different (p>0.05). Black patients diagnosed with glaucoma had significantly worse MD (–15.5 dB) and PSD (5.7 dB) scores compared to the MD (–3.9 dB) and PSD (3.5 dB) of Black glaucoma suspects (p>0.05). In comparing the Black and Hispanic glaucoma groups, Hispanic patients diagnosed with glaucoma had higher IOP (24.5 mmHg) on presentation compared to Black glaucoma patients (18.9 mmHg). Whereas, Black glaucoma patients had significantly worse MD scores (–15.5 dB) on presentation compared to Hispanic patients diagnosed with glaucoma (–8.4 dB) [p<0.05]. Conclusions: At the time of initial presentation, intraocular pressure is higher in Hispanic glaucoma patients compared to Black glaucoma patients. However, Black glaucoma patients have more severe visual field damage on initial presentation compared to Hispanic patients diagnosed with glaucoma.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment