Abstract:
Background: Acute retinal vascular occlusions are common causes of visual loss and are mostly
associated with advanced age, cardiovascular risk factors like hypertension, diabetes mellitus,
and dyslipidemia. Globally, millions of individuals are affected with various degrees of visual
outcomes. These cardiovascular risk factors are dramatically increasing in our country(1).
However, we don’t know whether the burden of retinal vascular occlusion parallels these risk
fa
ctors.
Objective: The study aims to determine the clinical profile of retinal vascular occlusion (both
arterial and venous) and associated risk factors.
Methodology: A facility based a case control study was carried out from JAN 2021 to DEC
2022 among patients visiting retina clinic of JUMC. A total of 78 patient with retinal vascular
occlusion was identified. 156 control patient was identified by age sex matching with 1:2 ratio.
Data was collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. Bivariable logistic regression was
done, and variables with p-value less than 0.25 in the bivariate analysis was entered to
multivariable logistic regression model to identify independent predictors and the magnitude of
association between the different variables in relation to the outcome variable was measured by
adjusted odds ratio (AOR) with 95% confidence interval (CI). A P-value less than 0.05 at 95%
CI as cut of point was used to declare the observed association is statistically significant.
Results: Retinal vascular occlusion constitute 4.99% of vitreo-retinal cases. Majority of retinal
vascular occlusions identified were retinal venous occlusion 76 (97.4%). CRVO constitute
majority of retinal venous occlusion 41 (53.9%), followed by BRVO 32(42.1%) and HRVO
3(4%). Hypertension was the commonest risk factor seen in 51(65.4%) patients, AOR (39.0), P
value <0.001, CI 15.77-96.81, followed by glaucoma 22(28.2%), AOR (2.66), CI (1.132-6.262).
Thirty five (44.9%) had complication at the time of presentation. The commonest complication
encountered was macular edema 21(60%) followed by neovascularization 9(25.7%). Fifty eight
(74.36%) were males and mean age was 60±14 years. Forty nine (62.8%) were legally blind.
mean Duration of presentation was 50.84±35 weeks.
Conclusion: Majority of patients affected by retinal vascular occlusion were males, RVO being
the most predominant type. Hypertension and glaucoma are the identified risk factors with
clinically significant association. Most patients had delayed presentation with complications and
irreversible blindness.
