BP variability a risk factor for chorioretinopathy?

Patients with central serous chorioretinopathy (CSCR) show higher variability in blood pressure (BP), suggesting that such variability may be a novel risk factor for CSCR, a recent study has found.

Researchers conducted a cross-sectional analysis on 50 CSCR patients (mean age 39.72±11.76 years, 39 men) and 60 healthy controls (mean age 41.65±12.44 years, 44 men). Using a wearable device, 24-hour ambulatory BP was monitored every 15 minutes during the day and every 30 minutes at night. Mean variability index (VI) and systolic (SBP) and diastolic (DBP) BP were recorded.

Both groups showed comparable mean ambulatory SBP and DBP values, regardless if measurements were collected over a 24-hour period, during the day, or at night.

In contrast, several VIs significantly differed between groups. For instance, VI for 24-hour SBP (13.5±2.6 vs 12.2±2.4 mm Hg; p=0.007) and DBP (10.8±2.4 vs 9.4±2.2 mm Hg; p=0.003) were significantly higher in CSCR patients than in controls. The same was true for daytime measurements (SBP: 13.0±3.1 vs 11.6±3.0 mm Hg; p=0.017; DBP: 10.0±2.2 vs 8.6±2.1 mm Hg; p=0.001). Mean nighttime VIs were similar between groups.

Multivariate logistic regression analysis confirmed that VIs for 24-hour SBP (odds ratio [OR], 1.12, 95 percent confidence interval [CI], 1.02–1.23; p=0.036) and DBP (OR, 1.48, 95 percent CI, 1.07–2.04; p=0.021) were significant and independently predictive of CSCR. The same was true for VI for daytime SBP (OR, 1.76, 95 percent CI, 1.05–2.58; p=0.002) and DBP (OR, 1.82, 95 percent CI, 1.23–2.64; p<0.001).

“Patients with CSCR should therefore be warned about their increased risk of other manifestations of vascular disorders associated with blood pressure variability. Further prospective investigations with larger samples and longer follow-up periods are necessary to clarify the association between BPV and CSCR,” the researchers said.