Clinical Profile And Associated Risk Factors Of Retinal Vascular Occlusion In Patients Attending Retina Clinic, Departement Of Ophthalmology Of Jumc From

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.