Age-Based Association of Glaucoma with the Prevalence of Diabetes and Hypertension at a National Hospital in Seoul

Glaucoma can have profound consequences on vision. Although diabetes and hypertension have been suggested as risk factors for glaucoma, their relevance in epidemiological studies remains controversial. Accordingly, we investigated whether diabetes and hypertension, as well as factors such as age and sex, affected the risk of glaucoma. From May 30, 2022, to June 24, 2022, 1152 patients were selected from a national hospital (Seoul, Korea) to analyze the association among visual field test results, diabetes, and hypertension. Patients who visited the hospital for glaucoma treatment or those referred for glaucoma were randomly selected. The mean deviation value, obtained from visual field test results, is an index of the overall change in the visual field. Based on the mean deviation value, patients with glaucoma were classified into early- (-6<MD<0), middle- (-12<MD<-6), and late-stage (MD<-12) glaucoma groups. Among the 1152 patients, 110 (10%) had diabetes co-occurring with hypertension and 997 (87%) had glaucoma. Among the patients with glaucoma, those with early glaucoma were the most represented and most of them did not have comorbid diabetes or hypertension. Moreover, the incidence of glaucoma was higher in older adults aged ≥60 years. No major sex-based changes in the occurrence of diabetes and hypertension were detected in patients with glaucoma. This retrospective study suggests that diabetes and hypertension may affect glaucoma risk; however, other factors such as age may also play a role in glaucoma progression. Regular medical and ophthalmic examinations are necessary to diagnose and manage glaucoma.