Risk factors in central retinal vein occlusion: A multi-center case-control study conducted on the Italian population

Purpose To explore the risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) by comparing a large sample of patients with healthy controls. Materials and Methods Multi-center case-control study. The study group includes patients affected by central retinal vein occlusion, confirmed angiographically, aged 50 years old or above (Group A). The control group includes healthy subjects without an history of retinal vein occlusion (Group B). Outcome measures: age, gender, active smoking, presence of uncontrolled arterial hypertension (uHTN), presence of the following comorbidities: diabetes mellitus type II (DMII), chronic liver disease (CLD), chronic kidney disease (CKD), thyroid disease (TD), systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), hyperhomocystenemia (HHcy), dyslipidemia (DLip), carotid artery disease (CAD), glaucoma, atrial fibrillation (AF), migraine headache (MH), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), history of myocardial infarction (MI). Odds-ratios were calculated with logistic regression analysis. Results A total of 203 patients (Group A) and 339 controls (Group B). Statistically-significant differences were found for the following variables: age (OR: 1.109 [1.081–1.138], p < .001), active smoking (OR: 2.048 [1.210- 3.466], p < .008), DMII (OR: 4.533 [2.097–9.803], p < .001), HHcy (OR: 4.507 [2.477–10.001 ], p < .001), DLip (OR: 2.255 [1.352–3.762], p = .002), CAD (OR: 6.632 [2.944- 14.942], p < .001), glaucoma (OR: 4.656 [2.031–10.673], < .001), OSAS (OR: 1.744 [1.023–2.975], < .041), uHTN (OR: 3.656 [2.247–5.949], < .001). No statistically-significant differences were found for the other variables. Conclusions Older age, active smoking, as well as presence of DMII, HHcy, DLip, CAD, glaucoma, OSAS, and uHTN, all increase the risk for CRVO. A comprehensive assessment of patients with CRVO is paramount. Adequate control of all the aforementioned risk factors is likely of great significance in reducing the incidence of CRVO among the general population, and it likely plays an important role in improving the prognosis following the occlusive event.

Background Factors Affecting Visual Acuity at Initial Visit in Eyes with Central Retinal Vein Occlusion: Multicenter Study in Japan

Purpose: To determine the baseline characteristics of patients with central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) that were significantly associated with the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) at the initial examination. Methods: This was a retrospective multicenter study using the medical records registered in 17 ophthalmological institutions in Japan. Patients with untreated CRVO (≥20-years-of-age) who were initially examined between January 2013 and December 2017 were studied. The patients’ baseline factors that were significantly associated with the BCVA at the initial examination were determined by univariate and multivariate linear regression analyses. Results: Data from 517 eyes of 517 patients were analyzed. Univariate analyses showed that an older age (r = 0.194, p < 0.001) and the right eye (r = −0.103, p < 0.019) were significantly associated with poorer BCVA at the initial visit. Multivariate analyses also showed that an older age (β = 0.191, p < 0.001) and the right eye (β = −0.089, p = 0.041) were significantly associated with poorer BCVA at the initial visit. Conclusions: The results indicate that an older age, a known strong factor, and the right eye were significantly associated with poorer BCVA at the initial visit to the hospital. These results suggest that functional and/or anatomical differences between the right and left eyes may be involved in these results.