Epidemiological Profile and Proportion of Retinopathy in Hypertensive Patients in A Tertiary Care Centre of South India

Background: Hypertensive retinopathy in a population indicates the level of hypertension control and risk for cardiovascular events and a 10-year risk of stroke mortality. So early detection of retinopathy is crucial for various reasons. Methodology: This study was conducted on 300 patients without known retinal problems included by convenient sampling method in the hypertension clinic at a tertiary care facility in Chennai from August to December 2021. Data was gathered using a questionnaire by in-person interviews and dilated fundoscopic examination. The Chi square test and the Fischer's exact test were used for associations. Results: The average age of the participants was 59.13 (±9.7) years. 188(62.7%) participants had hypertension for less than five years and 13.3% had regular eye check. The prevalence of retinopathy is 49.3%. In which 28%, 17.3%, 4% had Grade 1, Grade 2, Grade 3 respectively. Patients with hypertension more than 5 years, non-compliance to medications, not doing regular blood pressure check, being employed in non-professional occupation, with history of ocular pain and impaired vision had significant association with retinopathy. Conclusions: As the study had half the hypertensive patients with retinopathy, it is imperative to provide comprehensive health education and prioritize regular screening for retinopathic changes among hypertensive patients.