RISK-FACTORS FOR HEMIRETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION - COMPARISON WITH RISK-FACTORS FOR CENTRAL AND BRANCH RETINAL VEIN OCCLUSION - THE EYE DISEASE CASE-CONTROL STUDY

Objective: Possible risk factors for hemiretinal vein occlusion were i dentified and compared with risk factor profiles for central and branc h retinal vein occlusion. Design: The design was a multicenter case-co ntrol study. Methods: The authors identified 79 patients with hemireti nal vein occlusion (HRVO), 258 patients with central retinal vein occl usion (CRVO), 270 patients with branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO), and 1142 control subjects at 5 clinical centers. Risk factor data were obtained through interviews, clinical examinations, and laboratory an alyses of blood specimens. Results: Systemic hypertension and history of diabetes mellitus were associated with increased risk of HRVO. Risk of CRVO increased with history of diabetes, systemic hypertension, an d higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (females only); risk of CRVO d ecreased with increasing amounts of physical activity and increasing a mounts of alcohol consumption. Systemic hypertension, higher body mass index, and higher alpha(2)-globulin levels were associated with incre ased risk of BRVO, whereas higher high-density lipoprotein levels and increasing levels of alcohol consumption were associated with decrease d risk of BRVO. Glaucoma history was associated with all three types o f retinal vein occlusion. Conclusion: Patients presenting with retinal vein occlusion should be evaluated for cardiovascular disease, diabet es, and glaucoma.