Abnormalities of the retinal microvasculature, including suboptimal arteriolar diameters at bifurcation (P=0.02) and decreased tortuosity (P=0.011), were associated with increased IHD death.
Case-Control (n=682)
Do abnormalities of the retinal microvascular structure predict mortality from ischemic heart disease and stroke in adults aged 43 to 74 years?
Retinal microvascular abnormalities, specifically suboptimal arteriolar bifurcation diameters and decreased tortuosity, independently predict mortality from ischemic heart disease.
p-value: p=0.011
Abnormalities of the retinal microcirculation are found in hypertension and diabetes and predict cardiovascular mortality. This study examined the relationship between abnormalities of the retinal microvasculature and death from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke. A population-based, nested case-control study was undertaken within the Beaver Dam Eye Study. Subjects (43 to 74 years) who died of IHD (n=126) or stroke (n=28) over a 10-year period were age and gender matched with controls subjects (n=528; case:control matching, approximately 1:4). Retinal photographs of cases and controls were digitized and analyzed using a computer-based technique. Increased risk of IHD death was associated with a suboptimal relationship of arteriolar diameters at bifurcation (P=0.02 unadjusted) and decreased retinal arteriolar tortuosity (P=0.011 unadjusted). These associations remained significant after adjustment for age, sex, past history of cardiovascular disease, and other known cardiovascular risk factors. Increased arteriolar length:diameter ratio, a measure of generalized arteriolar narrowing, was associated with increased stroke mortality (P=0.02 unadjusted). This association was independent of age and gender but was attenuated by adjustment for systolic blood pressure (P=0.15). Other quantitative measures of the retinal microvascular network (eg, venular tortuosity and arteriolar and venular bifurcation angle) were not associated with death from IHD or stroke. Retinal microvascular abnormalities are predictive of death from IHD and stroke. A detailed assessment of the retinal microvascular network from digitized photographs may be useful in the noninvasive assessment of target organ damage and cardiovascular risk.
Witt et al. (Mon,) conducted a case-control in Ischemic heart disease and stroke (n=682). Abnormalities of the retinal microvasculature vs. Matched controls was evaluated on Death from ischemic heart disease (IHD) and stroke (p=0.011). Abnormalities of the retinal microvasculature, including suboptimal arteriolar diameters at bifurcation (P=0.02) and decreased tortuosity (P=0.011), were associated with increased IHD death.