Lower diastolic blood pressure linked to faster ganglion cell complex thinning

Lower diastolic blood pressure in combination with higher intraocular pressure was associated with faster rates of ganglion cell complex thinning in patients with glaucoma, according to a study.

“The findings suggest that evaluating and addressing diastolic blood pressure may be considered as a therapeutic measure in patients with glaucoma,” the authors wrote.

In this prospective cohort study, data from 105 eyes from 105 participants with glaucoma who had ≥4 macular imaging tests and ≥2 years of follow-up were included.

For intraocular pressures of 8 mm Hg, every 10 mm Hg–lower increment of diastolic blood pressure was associated with 0.011 μm/y slower rates of ganglion cell complex thinning, whereas intraocular pressures of 16 mm Hg were associated with –0.130 μm/y faster rates of ganglion cell complex thinning.

Reference
Mohammadzadeh V, Su E, Mohammadi M, et al. Association of Blood Pressure With Rates of Macular Ganglion Cell Complex Thinning in Patients With Glaucoma. JAMA Ophthalmol. Published online February 09, 2023. doi:10.1001/jamaophthalmol.2022.6092