Table 4

Retinal microvascular characteristics, per 10 mm Hg increase in concurrent and past systolic and diastolic blood pressure, non-diabetic people

Focal arteriolar narrowingArteriovenous nickingRetinopathyGeneralised arteriolar narrowing
OR (95% CI)*OR (95% CI)*OR (95% CI)*OR (95% CI)*
Concurrent systolic BP represents values taken in 1997–8 (at the time of retinal photography). Past systolic BP are values averaged over 1989–97 (1–8 years before photography). Generalised arteriolar narrowing defined as the lowest quintile of the arteriolar equivalent distribution in the population.
*Odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of retinal microvascular lesion, per 10 mm Hg increase in BP, adjusted for age, sex, and race.
†Additional adjustment for concurrent BP and antihypertensive medication use.
Concurrent systolic BP, per 10 mm Hg increase1.31 (1.21 to 1.42)1.21 (1.11 to 1.32)1.23 (1.13 to 1.34)1.11 (1.04 to 1.18)
p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001p=0.001
Past systolic BP, per 10 mm Hg increase1.27 (1.15 to 1.40)1.25 (1.12 to 1.38)1.26 (1.13 to 1.39)1.15 (1.07 to 1.24)
p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001p<0.001
Adjusted for concurrent systolic BP†1.09 (0.95 to 1.26)1.15 (1.00 to 1.32)1.07 (0.93 to 1.23)1.11 (1.04 to 1.27)
p=0.208p=0.057p=0.382p=0.008
Concurrent diastolic BP, per 10 mm Hg increase1.66 (1.41 to 1.95)1.29 (1.09 to 1.52)1.08 (0.92 to 1.28)1.17 (1.04 to 1.31)
p<0.001p=0.003p=0.340p=0.010
Past diastolic BP, per 10 mm Hg increase1.53 (1.25 to 1.88)1.37 (1.11 to 1.69)1.05 (0.85 to 1.30)1.30 (1.12 to 1.50)
p<0.001p=0.004p=0.623p=0.001
Adjusted for concurrent diastolic BP†1.09 (0.84 to 1.42)1.20 (0.91 to 1.57)0.90 (0.69 to 1.18)1.27 (1.05 to 1.54)
p=0.522p=0.204p=0.439p=0.013