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Prevalence and systemic associations of retinal vascular occlusions in Sub-Saharan Africa
Ogugua Ndubuisi Okonkwo1, Olukorede O Adenuga2, Dennis Nkanga3, Wilson Ovienria4, Affiong Ibanga3, Chineze Thelma Agweye3, Idris Oyekunle1, Toyin Akanbi1
1 Department of Retina, Eye Foundation Hospital, Lagos, Nigeria
2 Department of Ophthalmology, Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau, Nigeria
3 Department of Ophthalmology, University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar, Cross River, Nigeria
4 Department of Ophthalmology, Irrua Specialist Hospital, Edo, Nigeria
Correspondence Address:
Olukorede O Adenuga,
Jos University Teaching Hospital, Jos, Plateau
Nigeria
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None DOI: 10.4103/aam.aam_44_22
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Background: Retinal vascular occlusions are a common cause of visual impairment. Studies on retinal vascular occlusions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) have primarily been retrospective and on retinal vein occlusion (RVO) only. The aim of this study, therefore, was to determine the prevalence and pattern of retinal vascular occlusions and their systemic associations in SSA. Materials and Methods: This was a hospital-based, cross-sectional study involving all new patients presenting at the general ophthalmic and specialty retina clinics in four hospitals in Nigeria over a 1 year period. All the patients underwent a comprehensive eye examination. The demographic and clinical data of patients with retinal vascular occlusions were entered into an excel sheet and analyzed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 22.0. Statistical significance was indicated by P < 0.05. Results: A total of 8614 new patients were seen, and a diagnosis of retinal vascular occlusion was made in 90 eyes of 81 patients giving a disease prevalence of 0.9%. Eighty-one eyes of 72 (88.9%) patients had RVO, while 9 eyes of 9 (11.1%) patients had retinal artery occlusion (RAO). The mean age of patients with RVO and RAO was 59.5 years and 52.4 years, respectively. Increasing age, hypertension, and diabetes were the significant associations with retinal vascular occlusion with P< 0.0001. Conclusion: Retinal vascular occlusions are an increasing cause of retinal disease in SSA and tend to occur at an earlier age. They are associated with hypertension, diabetes, and increasing age. Further studies will, however, be required to establish the demographic and clinical profile of patients with RAO in the region.
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