Association found between salt intake, glaucoma risk in those on antihypertensive therapy
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts
Frequent dietary salt intake may increase the risk for glaucoma in patients on antihypertensive therapy, according to a study.
The analysis was conducted within the participants of the incidence phase of the Thessaloniki Eye Study (TES), a population-based study of chronic eye diseases conducted in Northern Greece. The study authors examined the association between dietary salt intake and the prevalence of any open-angle glaucoma (OAG), primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG) and pseudoexfoliation syndrome (PEX) in the overall study population and in the subset of patients undergoing antihypertensive treatment.
There were 1,076 participants overall, of which 89 of 1,076 (8.3%) had any OAG, 46 of 789 (5.8%) had POAG and 287 of 1,030 (27.9%) had PEX. In total, 784 participants (72.9%) were on antihypertensive medications. Within the incidence phase, all participants were asked about the type and frequency of salt used in their food; 1,047 of 1,076 (97.3%) reported use of ordinary salt.
In the entire study population, no statistically significant association was found between the frequency of salt intake in those with and without OAG, POAG and PEX and. However, in users of antihypertensive medications, frequent salt intake was associated with higher odds of any OAG and POAG. No significant association was found between any level of salt intake and PEX. Diastolic blood pressure less than 90 mm Hg was found to be an additional risk factor for any OAG in those using antihypertensive therapy.
“These findings support the role of antihypertensive use as a potential effect measure modifier in the association between salt intake and glaucoma in the TES incidence phase population,” the authors wrote.
They hypothesized that antihypertensive medications may disrupt vascular autoregulation, leading to decreased blood flow to the optic nerve and increased risk for glaucoma. Salt intake may further contribute to this effect, leading to an even higher risk for developing glaucoma.
“These findings suggest a need to further evaluate the effects of salt intake on perfusion to the optic nerve and any associated glaucomatous damage,” they wrote.
Collapse
Read more about
Click Here to Manage Email Alerts