The aim of this study is to develop a predictive model with several explanatory variables that can guide ophthalmologists to make a more objective assessment of the evolution of open-angle glaucoma (OAG) during tertiary prevention. Objectives: The evaluation of risk factors and different predictors of symptom progression between patients with POAG and non-glaucoma patients (NG), as well as between primary open-angle glaucoma with high intraocular pressure (POAG) and primary open-angle glaucoma with normal intraocular pressure (NTG), in tertiary prophylactic activities. Methods: This research is an analytical epidemiological study of a prospective cohort. For the study, we took into account personal medical history, physical ophthalmological examination, intraocular pressure (IOP) values, and visual field (VF) parameters, examined with the Opto AP-300 Automated Perimeter using the “fast threshold” strategy. The results of gonioscopy were inconsistently recorded; they were not considered in the study due to missing values, the processing of which would have seriously distorted the statistical analysis. Ophthalmological examination was completed with a dichotomous questionnaire entitled “Symptom Inventory”, made according to the accusations of patients resulting from a “focus group” study. The study was carried out in the ophthalmology office within the Integrated Outpatient Clinic of the Emergency Clinical Hospital of Oradea, Bihor County (IOCECHO) between January−December 2021. The threshold of statistical significance was defined for p value < 0.05. The obtained results were statistically processed with specialized software SPSS 22. Results: The study included 110 people, of which 71 (64.54%) had POAG (IOP > 21 mmHg) and 39 people (35.46%) had NTG (IOP < 21 mmHg), the two groups being statistically significantly different (χ2 = 9.309, df = 1, p = 0.002). For the POAG group, glaucomatous loss was early, AD < −6 dB, according to the staging of glaucomatous disease, HODAPP classification. In addition, the groups of POAG and NTG patients was compared with a group of 110 NG patients, these three groups being statistically significantly different (χ2 = 34.482, df = 2, p = 0.000). Analysis of confounding factors (age, sex, residence, marital status) shows a statistically significant relationship only for age (F = 2.381, df = 40, p = 0.000). Sex ratio for the study groups = 5.11 for OAG and =5.87 for NG. After treatment (prostaglandin analogues and neuroprotective drugs) IOP decreased statistically significantly for both POAG and NTG. Conclusions: this study identified possible predictors of OAG, at the 5% level (risk factors and symptoms as independent variables) using a dichotomous questionnaire tool with a complementary role in tertiary prophylactic activities. The implementation of the focus group interview results as a socio-human research technique will be supportive to clinicians.
Keywords: IOP (intraocular pressure); POAG (primary open-angle glaucoma); binary logistics regression; risk factor; secondary prevention; visual field; visual symptoms.