Systemic hypertension as a risk factor for open-angle glaucoma: a meta-analysis of population-based studies

• Published in: PloS one Vol. 9; no. 9; p. e108226
• Main Authors: Bae, Hyoung Won, Lee, Naeun, Lee, Hye Sun, Hong, Samin, Seong, Gong Je, Kim, Chan Yun
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Public Library of Science 25.09.2014; Public Library of Science (PLoS)
• Subjects: Asian Continental Ancestry Group; Bias; Blood pressure; Confidence intervals; Epidemiology; European Continental Ancestry Group; Eye diseases; Glaucoma; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - epidemiology; Glaucoma, Open-Angle - etiology; Homogeneity; Hospitals; Humans; Hypertension; Hypertension - complications; Lists; Medical ethics; Medical research; Medicine; Medicine and Health Sciences; Meta-analysis; Odds Ratio; Open-angle glaucoma; Population; Population studies; Population Surveillance; Population-based studies; Publication Bias; Regression analysis; Risk Factors; Rural areas; Statistical analysis; Studies; Tension
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0108226
• ISSN: 1932-6203

Systemic hypertension is thought to increase the risk for developing open-angle glaucoma (OAG) through several mechanisms. However, previous epidemiological studies have shown conflicting results regarding this potential association. We systematically evaluated this issue by conducting a meta-analysis of population-based studies. A comprehensive search for articles published before 31 March 2014 was performed using PubMed, Embase, and reference lists. The pooled odds ratio (OR) was calculated using the fixed- and random-effects models, and meta-regression was performed according to age. Subgroup analyses were also conducted, and publication bias was assessed using a funnel plot and Egger's regression test. This meta-analysis included 16 studies involving 60,084 individuals, with substantial homogeneity among the studies. The pooled OR for OAG was 1.22 (95% confidence interval, CI: 1.09-1.36) using the fixed-effects model and 1.22 (95% CI: 1.08-1.37) using the random-effects model in all included studies. For subgroup analyses, the pooled OR for high-tension glaucoma (HTG) was higher than that for normal-tension glaucoma (NTG) (OR=1.92 and 0.94, respectively). No significant difference was detected between Asian and Western populations, and no publication bias was detected in either analysis. Systemic hypertension increases the risk for developing OAG, especially in those with HTG.