PREVALENCE OF RETINOPATHY IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: The objectives of this study were to find out the
prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy among hypertensive patients in this area of Pakistan and grading of
hypertensive retinopathy at the time of examination according to the Keith-Wagener retinal changes
classification for hypertension. Study Design: An observational study. Period: 5½ months Setting:
Outdoor/emergency department as well as in medical unit - II of Allied Hospital, Faisalabad Material &
Methods: Three hundred consecutive patients with hypertension of either sex and between 20-85 years of age
were examined. Opthalmoscopy was done after dilating the pupil with 1% Mydriacyl and retinopathy graded
according to Keith-Wagener Classification. Results: Among these patients, 168 had the finding of hypertensive
retinopathy, with overall prevalence of 56%. Out of these 168 patients, 70 had grade I, 75 had grade II, 18 had
grade III and 05 had grade IV changes according to the Keith-Wagener Classification of hypertensive
retinopathy. Among these 168 patients with hypertensive retinopathy, 64 were males and 104 were females, with
overall prevalence in males 58.18% and in females 54.73%. It is found that prevalence of hypertensive
retinopathy is maximum in patients with 50 years of age or above. The prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy
increases with the duration of hypertension and is maximum in patients with duration of 10 years or more. Two
hundred twenty five (225) patients were taking single drug and out of these 110 patients were found to have
retinopathy with prevalence of 48.8%, 40 patients were taking combination therapy and out of these 34 patients
were found to have retinopathy with prevalence of 86%. The remaining 35 hypertensive patients who had never
taken medicine for their B.P control, out of these 35, 22 patients were found to have hypertensive retinopathy
with prevalence of 62.8%. Conclusion: Prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy in our population is quite high,
seen in both sexes and almost in all age groups. It increases with duration of the disease, higher in patient who
are taking combination of drug as compared to those who were on single drug.