Longitudinal Modeling of Intraocular Pressure and Its Associated Factors Among Glaucoma Patients: Evidence from Jimma University Medical Center
- 1Jimma University College of Natural Sciences
Abstract
BackgroundGlaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important modifiable risk factor for disease progression. Monitoring changes in IOP over time is therefore essential for glaucoma management. However, evidence on the longitudinal trajectory of IOP and its associated factors remains limited in resource-limited settings. This study investigated the longitudinal trajectory of IOP and its associated demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical determinants among glaucoma patients at Jimma University Medical Center.
ObjectiveTo assess the longitudinal trajectory of IOP and identify demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors associated with changes in IOP among glaucoma patients at Jimma University Medical Center.
MethodA retrospective longitudinal study was conducted among glaucoma patients who had at least three follow-up visits at Jimma University Medical Center. Repeated IOP measurements were obtained over six follow-up waves from January 2022 to January 2024. Profile plots were used to describe the longitudinal pattern of IOP, and linear mixed-effects models were fitted to assess factors associated with baseline IOP and changes in IOP over time. Separate models were fitted for the left and right eyes, in addition to a bivariate model that jointly accounted for both eyes.
ResultsIOP generally declined over follow-up period, although the magnitude and rate of decline varied across patient characteristics and treatment groups. In the right Eye, rural residence was associated with lower baseline IOP, while occupation and treatment regimen were also significantly associated with baseline IOP. Significant time-by-occupation and time-by-treatment interactions were observed. In particular, right-eye IOP declined more rapidly among patients receiving Timolol with Diamox and Timolol with Xolamol. In the left eye, sex, occupation, treatment regimen, and treatment duration were associated with baseline IOP, while significant interactions between time and Timolol with Latanoprost and short treatment duration were observed. A bivariate model similarly showed significant effects of residence, occupation, and treatment regimen, as well as significant time-by-treatment interactions, indicating different longitudinal IOP trajectories across treatment groups.
ConclusionIOP trajectories differed between the two eyes, with a significant decline in left-eye IOP but no significant overall temporal change in right-eye IOP. Treatment regimen was the most consistent factor associated with differences in the longitudinal trajectory of IOP, while occupation, residence, and treatment duration also showed significant associations in selected analyses. These findings highlight the importance of longitudinal monitoring and consideration of patient and treatment characteristics when assessing IOP among glaucoma patients. Further longitudinal studies with larger and more diverse populations are warranted to investigate additional behavioral, environmental, and clinical factors influencing IOP trajectories.
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BibTeX
@misc{tegegn2026longitudinal,
title = {{Longitudinal Modeling of Intraocular Pressure and Its Associated Factors Among Glaucoma Patients: Evidence from Jimma University Medical Center}},
author = {B. Tegegn and N. Nakhaeirad and J. A. Fufa and M. Getachew and T. F. Begna and D. B. Belay and S. B. Bizuayehu},
howpublished = {medRxiv},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.64898/2026.10.20.26366063},
url = {https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.20.26366063v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - UNPB
TI - Longitudinal Modeling of Intraocular Pressure and Its Associated Factors Among Glaucoma Patients: Evidence from Jimma University Medical Center
AU - B. Tegegn
AU - N. Nakhaeirad
AU - J. A. Fufa
AU - M. Getachew
AU - T. F. Begna
AU - D. B. Belay
AU - S. B. Bizuayehu
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/20
PB - medRxiv
DO - 10.64898/2026.10.20.26366063
UR - https://www.medrxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.10.20.26366063v1
AB - BackgroundGlaucoma remains one of the leading causes of irreversible blindness worldwide, and elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) is an important modifiable risk factor for disease progression. Monitoring changes in IOP over time is therefore essential for glaucoma management. However, evidence on the longitudinal trajectory of IOP and its associated factors remains limited in resource-limited settings. This study investigated the longitudinal trajectory of IOP and its associated demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical determinants among glaucoma patients at Jimma University Medical Center. ObjectiveTo assess the longitudinal trajectory of IOP and identify demographic, socioeconomic, and clinical factors associated with changes in IOP among glaucoma patients at Jimma University Medical Center. MethodA retrospective longitudinal study was conducted among glaucoma patients who had at least three follow-up visits at Jimma University Medical Center. Repeated IOP measurements were obtained over six follow-up waves from January 2022 to January 2024. Profile plots were used to describe the longitudinal pattern of IOP, and linear mixed-effects models were fitted to assess factors associated with baseline IOP and changes in IOP over time. Separate models were fitted for the left and right eyes, in addition to a bivariate model that jointly accounted for both eyes. ResultsIOP generally declined over follow-up period, although the magnitude and rate of decline varied across patient characteristics and treatment groups. In the right Eye, rural residence was associated with lower baseline IOP, while occupation and treatment regimen were also significantly associated with baseline IOP. Significant time-by-occupation and time-by-treatment interactions were observed. In particular, right-eye IOP declined more rapidly among patients receiving Timolol with Diamox and Timolol with Xolamol. In the left eye, sex, occupation, treatment regimen, and treatment duration were associated with baseline IOP, while significant interactions between time and Timolol with Latanoprost and short treatment duration were observed. A bivariate model similarly showed significant effects of residence, occupation, and treatment regimen, as well as significant time-by-treatment interactions, indicating different longitudinal IOP trajectories across treatment groups. ConclusionIOP trajectories differed between the two eyes, with a significant decline in left-eye IOP but no significant overall temporal change in right-eye IOP. Treatment regimen was the most consistent factor associated with differences in the longitudinal trajectory of IOP, while occupation, residence, and treatment duration also showed significant associations in selected analyses. These findings highlight the importance of longitudinal monitoring and consideration of patient and treatment characteristics when assessing IOP among glaucoma patients. Further longitudinal studies with larger and more diverse populations are warranted to investigate additional behavioral, environmental, and clinical factors influencing IOP trajectories.
ER -