Obesity, Other Factors Predict Retinal Vein Occlusion

TUESDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- About 1.6 percent of adults aged 49 or older will develop retinal vein occlusion within 10 years, and those with an elevated mean arterial blood pressure or ocular perfusion pressure and those who are obese or who have retinal arteriolar wall signs are at greater risk, according to a study in the May issue of the Archives of Ophthalmology.

Sudha Cugati, M.S., of Westmead Hospital in Westmead, Australia, and colleagues evaluated the 10-year incidence of retinal vein occlusion in 3,654 residents aged 49 or older enrolled in the Blue Mountains Eye Study from 1992 to 1994. Some 2,335 of the residents were re-examined from 1997 to 1999, and 1,952 were re-examined from 2002 to 2004.

The researchers found that 1.6 percent developed retinal vein occlusion. The main risk factors for retinal vein occlusion included age, mean arterial blood pressure (age-adjusted odds ratio, 1.41), ocular perfusion pressure (OR, 1.71), obesity (OR, 2.16) and retinal arteriolar wall signs (OR, 3.37-4.89).

"Monitoring and adequate control of elevated blood pressure in patients with these signs could be a useful strategy in preventing retinal vein occlusion," the authors conclude.

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