Clinical profiles of primary open angle glaucoma versus normal tension glaucoma patients: a pilot study.

PURPOSE: To study the health profiles and behavioral differences between primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) patients.

METHODS

Confidential mail survey of ICD-9 defined POAG (n = 277) and NTG (n = 116) patients was carried out to collect information regarding age, gender, height, weight, waist circumference, blood pressure (BP), medications [prescription (Rx) and over the counter (OTC)], education, and the Short Health Anxiety Inventory (SHAI).

RESULTS

NTG patients (59/116) were significantly more likely to respond to the survey than POAG patients (43/277), p = 0.0001, and to have obtained college level education (70% vs. 42%), p = 0.003. Body weight, waist circumference, body mass index, systolic BP, pulse pressure, and ratio of prescription medications to OTC medications were significantly lower in the NTG group (p < 0.0001). The SHAI score, mean age, and diastolic BP were not different between the two groups. A subgroup analysis of college-educated patients in both groups revealed persisting significant differences in waist circumference, systolic BP, and ratio of Rx to OTC medications.

CONCLUSIONS

NTG patients do not have significantly greater health anxiety than POAG patients. NTG patients are more likely to have lower BMI, systolic BP, and ratio of Rx to OTC medications than POAG patients. The pilot nature of this study limits generalizability of these findings. Larger studies confirming these findings and elucidating the role of refractive error and medical history on such differences are needed.