RISK-FACTORS FOR CENTRAL RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION - THE EYE DISEASE CASE-CONTROL STUDY-GROUP

Objective: To identify possible risk factors for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO). Design: Between May 1, 1986, and December 31, 1990, 258 patients with CRVO and 1142 controls were identified at five clini cal centers. Data were obtained through interviews, clinical examinati ons, and laboratory analyses of blood specimens. Results: An increased risk of CRVO was found in persons with systemic hypertension, diabete s mellitus, and open-angle glaucoma. Risk of CRVO decreased with incre asing levels of physical activity and increasing levels of alcohol con sumption. In women, risk of occlusion decreased with use of postmenopa usal estrogens and increased with higher erythrocyte sedimentation rat es. Cardiovascular disease, electrocardiographic abnormalities, histor y of treatment of diabetes mellitus, higher blood glucose levels, lowe r albumin-globulin ratios, and higher alpha(1)-globulin levels were as sociated with increased risk only for ischemic CRVO. Systemic hyperten sion was associated with increased risk for ischemic and nonischemic C RVO, but odds ratios were greater for the ischemic type. Conclusions: Our results suggest a cardiovascular risk profile for persons with CRV O, in particular, patients with the ischemic type. The findings reinfo rce recommendations to diagnose and treat systemic hypertension, advis e patients to increase physical exercise, and consider use of exogenou s estrogens in postmenopausal women.