Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the effect of aging on intraocular pressure (IOP) in Malay and Indian populations and elucidate factors associated with these changes.
Methods :
Data stem from a prospective, population-based cohort study. A total of 1901 Malay and 2200 Indian persons aged 40 and above living in Singapore were followed up for six years. Participants underwent standardized systemic and ocular examinations and interviewer administered questionnaires for risk factor assessment. Systemic blood pressure (BP) was measured with automated oscillometry and IOP readings were obtained with Goldmann applanation tonometry. Linear regression models were used to investigate the factors associated with changes in IOP.
Results :
Readings for BP and IOP readings were available for 3047 participants (mean age: 54.5 years, 53 percent women, 47 percent Malays). Mean IOP decreased on average (mean ± SD, -0.4 ± 3.1 mmHg, P < 0.001), but not in those who developed hypertension at follow-up (0.0 ± 3.1 mmHg, P = 0.299). Changes in IOP were negatively associated with age (beta = -0.07, 95 percent CI, -0.13to-0.01) and baseline IOP (beta = -0.69, 95 percent CI, -0.72to-0.66), and positively associated with female gender (beta = 0.41, 95 percent CI, 0.23to0.60), Indian ethnicity (beta = 0.73, 95 percent CI, 0.55to0.92), diabetes (beta = 0.27, 95 percent CI, 0.05to0.49), baseline SBP (beta = 0.20, 95 percent CI, 0.14to0.26) and DBP (beta = 0.33, 95 percent CI, 0.22to0.44), as well as with 6-year increases in SBP (beta = 0.27, 95 percent CI, 0.21to0.33) and DBP (beta = 0.51, 95 percent CI, 0.40to0.62).
Conclusions :
After 6-year follow-up IOP significantly decreased in an aging Malay and Indian population. Systemic blood pressure and the change in blood pressure over time are associated with these changes. Since IOP is a risk factor for glaucoma, our findings highlight the importance of controlling hypertension in populations, where glaucoma incidence is increasing.
This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.