Res Community Public Health Nurs.  2025 Mar;36(1):130-149. 10.12799/rcphn.2024.00857.

Factors associated with Hypertensive Retinopathy among People with Hypertension: A Systematic Review

• Jeong IS
• Kang CM
• Lee EJ
• Kim SB
• Seo YK
• Son YS
• Kim KH

• KMID: 2566315
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.12799/rcphn.2024.00857

Abstract

Purpose
The associated factors for hypertensive retinopathy (HTR) are rarely investigated. This study aimed to identify the associated factors for HTR using a systematic review.
Methods
The review included cross-sectional, case-controlled, and cohort studies on HTR risk factors published in Korean and English with full texts available from PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and Korean databases. Methodological quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) checklist.
Results
Eleven studies were finally selected, and three studies including patients with hypertension without diabetes mellitus, older age, male sex, alcohol consumption, the duration of hypertension, hyperglycemia, dyslipidemia, microalbuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and cardiovascular changes were identified as factors associated with HTR. Conversely, in the remaining eight studies, younger age, non-smoking status, and renal function indicators (albuminuria, high creatinine levels, chronic kidney disease, and uric acid) were identified as associated factors.
Conclusions
Regardless of the inclusion of patients with diabetes mellitus, impaired kidney functions were determined as significant factors associated with retinopathy in patients with HTR. However, considering a limited number of evidence and lack of evidence to confirm causality, we recommend further research on renal function and HTR.

Keyword

Hypertension; Hypertensive Retinopathy; Risk Factors; Systematic Review