Abstract

ALVAREZ-ALIAGA, Alexis; RODRIGUEZ-BLANCO, Liuska Haydee; CORREA BARZAGA, Keila  and  BERDU SAUMELL, Yoel. Risk factors for hypertensive retinopathy. Rev cubana med [online]. 2007, vol.46, n.2, pp. 0-0. ISSN 1561-302X.

A case-control study was conducted on blood hypertensive patients to identify the effect of risk factors for hypertensive retinopathy in those people seen at the blood hypertension consultation service of the polyclinics of "Carlos Manuel de Céspedes" clinical and surgical hospital from January 1st to December 31st, 2005. It was observed that out of 150 patients, 50 presented with hypertensive retinopathy. Males exhibited doubled risk of organ damage (OR 2,36; CI 1,11-5,05) and that risk had a fivefold increase in the 65 years and over age group (OR 5,78; CI 2,55-13,02). The possibility of retinal damage increased twice due to smoking (OR 230; IC 1,07- 4,99). In the premorbid factors, excessive amount of dietary salt(OR 3,88; IC 1,71-8,87), held the first place followed by obesity (OR 3,75; IC 1,23-11,70). It was confirmed that uncontrolled blood pressure had a three-fold risk of lesion in the retina(OR 3,41; IC 1,55 -7,60) whereas a very severe condition of blood hypertension made this risk quintuplied (OR 4,96; CI 1,97-12,65). It was concluded that male sex, 65 years and over age, smoking, personal pre-morbid factors, uncontrolled blood pressure and severity of hypertension were risk factors for developing hypertensive retinopathy.

Keywords : hypertensive retinopathy; blood hypertension; risk factors.