Correlation of intraocular pressure with blood pressure and body mass index in offsprings of diabetic patients: a cross sectional study

Raised intraocular pressure (IOP) has been associated with risk factors like hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM), obesity, body mass index (BMI) and sex, increasing the risk of glaucoma causing visual impairment and blindness. Since familial inheritance is known with glaucoma and DM, the aim was to study the IOP and its correlation with BMI and blood pressure (BP) in offsprings of DM and also to predict the future/early onset of glaucoma in them.

This was an observational study done in medical undergraduate students. 25 students were included in the study group (offsprings of diabetic parents-cases) and 23 students in the control group (offsprings without diabetic history in parents). Height, weight, blood pressure and intraocular pressure were recorded in both the groups and these were compared. Statistical analysis was done by student's t test and Pearson's correlation.

Cases exhibited a lower IOP, BMI, mean arterial pressure (MAP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), but not SBP, as compared to controls. These differences, however, were not statistically significant except DBP. There was a negative correlation found between IOP and BMI and also between IOP and MAP in cases, whereas in controls, there was a positive correlation found between BMI and IOP and no correlation between IOP and MAP.

Offsprings of diabetic patients may be less prone for primary open angle glaucoma.

The limitations of the present study include a smaller sample size, study of the results in relation to paternal or maternal diabetic status and also of grandparents, so that the inheritance of diabetes and also of IOP can be studied.