Hertel Exophthalmometry Values in a Greek Adult Outpatient Clinic-Based Population: Association With Demographic Factors and Systemic Disease.

purposeTo investigate correlations of exophthalmometry values (EVs) with age, gender, and the presence of diabetes mellitus, arterial hypertension, and dyslipidemia.

methodsIn a cross-sectional, clinic-based study, consecutive adult Greek patients presenting for evaluation at the outpatient general clinic on a scheduled appointment basis at a tertiary care referral center were submitted to Hertel exophthalmometry in both eyes by the same observer. Subjects with signs of history or orbital pathology, including thyroid-associated ophthalmopathy, were excluded. Demographics, as well as a detailed systemic history report, were recorded. Mixed effect linear regression analysis was performed to account for the correlation between the eyes of the same participant.

resultsA total of 800 eyes (400 subjects) were included, 194 males and 206 females, with a mean age of 67.82 ± 12 years (range: 18-92 years). The mean exophthalmometry value was 15.7 ± 2.6 mm (range: 11-21 mm). Every one year of increase in age is associated with a decrease in EVs by 0.03 mm (95% CI -0.04, -0.02/p-value<0.001). Female gender was associated with lower EVs by 0.33mm (95% CI-0.56, -0.1/p-value=0.005). Patients with diabetes mellitus had higher EVs by 0.47 mm (95% CI 0.25, 0.70/p-value<0.001) compared to patients without diabetes, and patients with arterial hypertension had lower EVs by 0.26 mm (95% CI -0.5, -0.02/p-value=0.034) compared to patients without hypertension. No association was found between dyslipidemia and systemic history of thyroid dysfunction.  Conclusions: A negative correlation of EVs was noted with increasing age, female gender, as well as history of arterial hypertension and a positive correlation with diabetes mellitus.