Retinopathy Signals Increased Risk for Coronary Heart Disease Mortality
Retinopathy may translate to an increased risk for coronary heart disease mortality in people with and without diabetes, according to a study published online in Heart.
Researchers analyzed retinal photographs of nearly 3000 people over age 49. After 12 years, the presence of retinopathy (e.g., microaneurysms, blot- or flame-shaped hemorrhages) was associated with increased risk for CHD mortality in people with and without diabetes (adjusted hazard ratios: 2.2 and 1.3, respectively). The risk from retinopathy alone was similar to that associated with diabetes itself.
The authors note that retinopathy may be a marker of microvascular disease due to vascular endothelial dysfunction, and they conclude that direct ophthalmoscopy may help identify those at increased risk. "Such people," they write, "may benefit from a thorough cardiovascular risk assessment, lifestyle changes and better management of risk factors, and closer monitoring for CHD events."
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