Comparative Anthropometric Evaluation of Waist Hip Ratio and Intraocular Pressure among Glaucoma Patients and Non-Glaucoma Subjects in the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH), Port Harcourt, Rivers State

Glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness in the world, second only to cataract and as such, a source of major public health concern. The aim of this study was to find a correlation between intraocular pressure and waist hip ratio for patients with glaucoma and compare data with non-glaucoma subjects. A total number of 70 randomly selected subjects comprising 30 males and 40 females attending outpatient clinics of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital (UPTH) were involved. The procedure was explained to the patients and informed consent obtained. For each subject, the intraocular pressure, hip circumference, and waist circumference of each subject was taken. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured using the Keeler Pulsar Intel puff machine, model 2414-p-200, Keeler USA which is a type of applanation tonometer while a simple measuring tape was used for the somatometric parameters. Statistical analysis was done using IBM SPSS version 23. Continuous variables were presented as mean±SD. Student t-test was carried out to determine statistically significant difference in the measured somatometric parameters. Chi-square was employed to test relationship between the somatometric parameters and variables related to glaucoma in the two groups. Confidence interval was set at 95%, therefore a ñ-value less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results showed that WC (cm) for male glaucoma patients was 88.72±25.78 while for the non-glaucoma subjects was 79.69±25.40, while for female glaucoma patients (83.06±23.80) and female non-glaucoma subjects (85.22±25.02). HC (cm) for male glaucoma patients was 102.14±23.37 while for the non-glaucoma subjects (96.68±22.33), female glaucoma patients (100.20±27.09) and female non-glaucoma subjects (101.98±22.81). Right IOP for male glaucoma patients was (24.97±2.40), nonglaucoma subjects (17.20±2.58) whereas for female glaucoma patients (24.99±2.84) and female non-glaucoma subjects (17.34±2.99) while for Left IOP, male glaucoma patients (23.91±9.26), male non-glaucoma subjects (18.46±5.45), female glaucoma patients (23.06±7.62) and female non-glaucoma subjects (15.49±3.65). For the females the correlation between IOP and gender was not statistically significant. However, a positive correlation was established between IOP and waist hip ratio (WHR) i.e. IOP increased with increased WHR. In conclusion, the size of an individual as determined by waist to hip ratio should among other individual factors be considered in the clinical management of glaucoma irrespective of sex.

Key Words: Anthropometric, evaluation, glaucoma, intraocular pressure, waist hip ratio