Prevalence of Retinal Vein Occlusions and Estimated Cerebrospinal Fluid Pressure: The Kailuan Eye Study.

Purpose: To investigate the prevalence of retinal vein occlusions (RVOs) and associated factors in a Chinese population.

Patients and methods: The cross-sectional community-based Kailuan Eye Study included individuals who participated in the Kailuan Study. RVOs were diagnosed on the fundus photographs. Estimated cerebrospinal fluid pressure (eCSFP) was calculated as "eCSFP=0.44*Body Mass Index+0.16*Diastolic Blood Pressure-0.18*Age".

Results: The study included 12,499 participants with a mean age of 52.9±13.1 years. The overall prevalence of RVO was 120/12,499 or 0.96%, with branch RVOs observed in 116/12,499 individuals and central RVOs in 4/12,499 individuals. RVOs started at the optic disc in 19 participants (15.8% of all RVOs), and in 101 (84.2%) individuals arterio-venous crossings outside the optic disc. In multivariable analysis, a higher RVO prevalence was associated with older age (P<0.001), higher eCSFP (P<0.001), and higher fasting serum glucose concentration (P<0.001). Differentiating between RVOs at arterio-venous crossings and RVOs at the optic disc revealed that the prevalence of both RVO types was associated with higher eCSFP (P<0.001 and P=0.004, respectively) after adjusting for age and fasting serum glucose concentration.

Conclusion: In this adult Chinese population recruited on a community basis, the prevalence of any RVO (mean: 0.96) was associated with older age, higher eCSFP and higher fasting serum glucose concentration. Higher eCSFP may play an etiologic role in RVOs.