Intraocular pressure and influencing systemic health parameters in a Korean population

AIM: To evaluate the relationship between intraocular pressure (IOP) and systemic health parameters such as age, gender, body mass index (BMI), total cholesterol, high density lipoprotein (HDL), and triglyceride (TG) in a Korean population. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A total of 30,893 healthy subjects underwent automated multiphasic tests, including non-contact tonometry, automated perimetry, fundus photography, and blood samplings for total cholesterol, HDL, and TG. Seven age groups were divided by decades ranging from 20 to 29 years to 80 + years. The association between IOP and BMI, plasma lipid profiles was examined using cross-sectional analysis. RESULTS: The mean age of subjects was 47.7 years. The mean IOP of subjects was 15.4 ± 3.2 mmHg for both eyes. The mean IOP of men was significantly higher than women (P = 0.000). By multiple linear regression analysis, IOP was positively associated with gender (male), BMI, total cholesterol, and TG and negatively associated with age (P = 0.000). BMI, total cholesterol, and TG had significantly positive correlations with IOP after adjusting for age, gender, and other variables which can influence the IOP (P = 0.000). CONCLUSIONS: In a Korean population, the mean IOP, total cholesterol, TG, and BMI values of men were higher than women. IOP was found to increase with total cholesterol, TG, BMI, and to decrease with only age regardless of sex.