Hypermetropia, axial length, and hypertension: the Tanjong Pagar survey.

PURPOSE: To examine the relationship among hypermetropia, axial length, and hypertension in a Chinese population.

DESIGN

Population-based cross-sectional study.

METHODS

This study included 1213 Chinese individuals aged 40 to 81 years. Hypertension was defined as systolic blood pressure > or =140 mm Hg, diastolic blood pressure > or =90 mm Hg, or self-report history of antihypertension treatment. Refraction was determined with an autorefractor and refined subjectively. A-mode ultrasound scanning was used to measure axial length.

RESULTS

The crude odds ratio of hypertension was 2.5 (95% CI, 1.4-4.6) for moderate hypermetropia (> or =+2.00 spheric equivalent diopters) vs high myopia (< or =-6.00 diopters), and 1.4 (95% CI, 0.9-2.1) for highest vs lowest axial length quintile. These associations were no longer significant after adjustment for age, gender, education, housing type, and income.

CONCLUSIONS

These data provide no evidence that hypermetropia or shorter axial length is associated independently with hypertension in Chinese individuals.