Incidence and determinants of hypertensive retinopathy in hypertension patients at a teaching hospital in North Western Karnataka

Persistently raised blood pressure not only leads to retinal vascular damage but also leads to systemic diseases. The retinal vasculature observation by fundoscopy offers a great opportunity to explore the association of systemic microvascular disease caused by hypertension. Hypertensive retinopathy (HR) is considered to be a marker for vascular disease and death. The aim of the present study was to find out the prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy among hypertensive subjects and assess the pattern of retinopathy and associated risk factors. This was a hospital based cross-sectional study conducted among hypertensive patients at a teaching hospital, for a period of 3 months.A total of 300 hypertensive patients formed the study population. The prevalence of the hypertensive retinopathy in the present study was 49.33%. Hypertensive retinopathy was more prevalent in men 62% than women 38%. The prevalence of grade 1 and grade 2 hypertensive retinopathies was 43.24% and 33.11% respectively and 20.95% and 2.7% had grade 3 and 4 respectively. The prevalence of retinopathy was found to be statistically higher in patients who had h/o hypertension for more than 5 years. The prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy was more common in age group >60yrs. The prevalence of target organ damage was higher in those having retinopathy.The prevalence of hypertensive retinopathy is high in the present study which reflects lack of awareness, patient compliance, sub optimal measures to control blood pressure and even lack of prompt follow up with ophthalmologists. There is need to spread awareness and take adequate measures to reduce the burden of hypertensive retinopathy.