Tenley Bower1, Deborah Anne Samek2, Ahmed Mohammed3, Ali Mohammed3, Paul Kasner4, David Camoriano1, Oscar Kasner5. 1. ?>Department of Ophthalmology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Que; University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Man. 2. Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Que. 3. ?>Department of Ophthalmology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Que. 4. Concordia University, Montreal, Que. 5. ?>Department of Ophthalmology, Jewish General Hospital, McGill University, Montreal, Que. Electronic address: acolacch@oph.jgh.mcgill.ca.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of the systemic use of some common classes of medications by glaucoma patients and their relationship to the prevalence and severity of chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) and primary-angle closure glaucoma (PACG). DESIGN: Observational prospective single-centre cross-sectional study. METHODS: Glaucoma patients or their pharmacist provided an updated list of all systemic medications that they presently use. The relationship between glaucoma type and severity and medication use for diseases other than glaucoma was assessed by univariate statistics. RESULTS: We studied 514 glaucoma patients. They use a mean of 4.9 oral medications prescribed by a mean of 2.1 doctors. Antihypertensives, medications with anticholinergic properties, steroids, anticoagulants, and thyroid hormones were the most frequently prescribed groups of medications, used by 251 (49%), 178 (35%), 100 (19%), 218 (42%), and 108 (21%) patients, respectively. Steroid usage was associated with advanced visual field loss in COAG patients. Antihypertensives and medications with anticholinergic properties were not associated with severity of COAG and PACG, respectively, and these 3 groups were not associated with an increased prevalence of diagnosis of COAG or PACG. CONCLUSION: Glaucoma patients take many systemic medications in addition to their topical glaucoma treatment.
OBJECTIVE: To study the prevalence of the systemic use of some common classes of medications by glaucomapatients and their relationship to the prevalence and severity of chronic open-angle glaucoma (COAG) and primary-angle closure glaucoma (PACG). DESIGN: Observational prospective single-centre cross-sectional study. METHODS:Glaucomapatients or their pharmacist provided an updated list of all systemic medications that they presently use. The relationship between glaucoma type and severity and medication use for diseases other than glaucoma was assessed by univariate statistics. RESULTS: We studied 514 glaucomapatients. They use a mean of 4.9 oral medications prescribed by a mean of 2.1 doctors. Antihypertensives, medications with anticholinergic properties, steroids, anticoagulants, and thyroid hormones were the most frequently prescribed groups of medications, used by 251 (49%), 178 (35%), 100 (19%), 218 (42%), and 108 (21%) patients, respectively. Steroid usage was associated with advanced visual field loss in COAG patients. Antihypertensives and medications with anticholinergic properties were not associated with severity of COAG and PACG, respectively, and these 3 groups were not associated with an increased prevalence of diagnosis of COAG or PACG. CONCLUSION:Glaucomapatients take many systemic medications in addition to their topical glaucoma treatment.