Purpose: To study the relationship between optic disc hemorrhages and four different groups of medications used in general vascular disease and diabetes.
Methods: The authors screened citizens of the city of Malmö, Sweden who were between 57 and 79 years old (32,918 subjects), in order to find individuals with undetected glaucoma. One set of optic disc photographs was taken of each participant and examined for optic disc hemorrhages. Logistic regression was used, with platelet aggregation inhibitors, antihypertensive agents, cholesterol-lowering medication, and antidiabetic agents as independent variables that were tested in isolation as well as in various combinations and adjusted for age and gender.
Results: Optic disc hemorrhages were significantly more common in individuals taking platelet aggregation inhibitors (OR 3.16, P < 0.0001). There was no significant association between ODH and the other three groups of medications.
Conclusions: The significant relationship between platelet aggregation inhibitors and optic disc hemorrhages is a new and interesting finding that could indicate an association between optic disc hemorrhages and generalized vascular disease. Alternatively, it could mean that platelet aggregation inhibitors prolong resorption of or predispose to optic disc hemorrhages.