Relation between intraocular pressure and systemic health parameters in Taiwan

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between intraocular pressure (IOP) and several systemic health parameters in Taiwan.

We retrospectively reviewed the medical records from all participants who had been examined in China Medical University Hospital. A total of 1,271 subjects (mean age, 50.0 +/- 12.0 years; age range, 21 to 85) who had not undergone any medical treatment for ocular hypertension or glaucoma were included in this study. Systemic factors (age, sex, blood pressure, total cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, body mass index, waist circumference) were measured. One-way analysis of variance, Pearson correlation coefficients, and multivariate linear regression were used.

There were 674 (53.0%) males and 597 (47.0%) females in this study. After controlling for the other covariates, the multivariate linear regression analysis showed that in males and females, systolic blood pressure was positively associated with IOP. That is, a change in systolic blood pressure by 1 mm Hg would alter the measured IOP by 0.024 mm Hg in males (95% CI, 0.002, 0.046; P = 0.031) and 0.030 mm Hg in females (95% CI, 0.006, 0.053; P = 0.014). In males, age was inversely associated with IOP. That is, a change in age by 1 year would alter the measured IOP by -0.039 mm Hg (95% CI, -0.059, -0.020; P = 0.0001).

IOP was found to have a strong positive association with systolic blood pressure in males and females. IOP was inversely associated with age in males. This study may provide basic information for further studies on IOP in Taiwan.