The Usefulness of Ophthalmoscopy in Risk Evaluation of Hypertensive Patients

Objectives: The main objective was to assess whether systematic ophthalmoscopy in the baseline evaluation of hypertensive patients results in a change in the therapeutic attitude as a result of the discovery of target organ damage. A secondary objective was to find the relationship between fundus lesions and other target organ manifestations in patients with hypertension. Results: 73.6% of the patients studied had damage to the optic fundus, 35% of the patients had fundus lesions attributable to hypertension, 21% of patients ( p < 0.001) (JNC-VI) and 15.8% ( p < 0.001) (WHO/ISH) changed group of risk. Patients who were more likely to change group of risk after ophthalmoscopy were those with moderate hypertension (Grade II). Patients with a level of creatinine 85 µmol/l and body mass index increase the risk of fundus lesions. Females are less at risk and alcohol intake seems to have a protective effect. Conclusion: Ophthalmoscopy in the baseline evaluation of patients with hypertension permits a better stratification of risk.