Abstract
Objective: To clarify the occurrence and changes of funduscopic findings associated with long-term influence by hypertension, data from a longitudinal survey for cardiovascular risk factors were explored. Methods: Subjects were men aged 30 to 59 years who underwent mass examination including ocular fundus examination in Ikawa town, Akita prefecture; the early cohort (434 men,1963-1966 at baseline and followed to 1978-1981)and the later cohort (492 men,1986-1989 at baseline and followed to 2001-2004). The hypertensive change in fundus was defined as the greater value than I degree by Scheie's classification. Results: The prevalence of hypertensive changes in fundus significantly increased from 33% at baseline to 45% after 15-years follow-up in early cohort (p< 0.001), whereas from 13% to 15% in later cohort (not significant). In later cohort, the proportion of subjects having had no hypertensive findings through 15-years was higher, while those of subjects with continuous or deteriorating hypertensive findings during the follow-up were lower than those in early cohort; these results were apparent in hypertensive subjects (those with normotension at baseline and hypertension at terminate of follow-up, or with hypertension at both periods). The later cohort had higher prevalence of using of anti-hypertensive medication and lower blood pressure levels than the early cohort. Conclusion: The present findings showed that the prevalence of hypertensive changes of funduscopic findings have been influenced by hypertension control in a community.
