Patients affected by a specific form of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke.
- In France, AMD affects approximately 8% of the population.
- The macula allows fine detail to be seen and colors to be distinguished in the central part of the image.
It is a chronic and very debilitating disease. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) affects the central area of the retina, called the “macula”. It occurs after 50 years and evolves gradually. This pathology “is the main cause of visual impairment in the elderly”, indicates theHealth Insurance. Recently, American researchers revealed that a form of this eye disease was associated with cardiovascular conditions.
AMD: the eyes of 200 patients were examined using retinal imaging
In order to reach this conclusion, the scientists carried out a study published in the journal BMJ Open Ophthalmology. As part of this work, their goal was to identify which types of cardiovascular pathologies and carotid artery diseases were linked to AMD. For the research, the team recruited 200 people with age-related macular degeneration. They had to answer a questionnaire on their medical history (abnormal heart valves, myocardial abnormality, stroke/transient ischemic attack, etc.).
Participants’ eyes were also analyzed using retinal imaging to determine which patients had subretinal drusenoid deposits. “These deposits contain a form of cholesterol and form above the retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) and just below the light-sensitive cells of the retina, where damage occurs and where vision is lost”explained the authors in a statement.
“A link between cardiovascular disease and a specific form of AMD”
A total of 97 patients presented with subretinal drusenoid deposits. In detail, 47 adults suffered from serious heart disease (19 had heart damage due to heart failure or heart attack, 17 had serious valve disease and 11 had a stroke).
According to the researchers, 40 of these 47 people (86%) had subretinal drusenoid deposits. They concluded that people with AMD and severe cardiovascular disease were nine times more likely to have subretinal drusenoid deposits than those without. “For the first time, we were able to establish a link between high-risk cardiovascular diseases and a specific form of AMD, that which presents with subretinal drusenoid deposits”, said Roland Theodore Smith, author of the study.
“This research demonstrates that ophthalmologists may be the first physicians to detect systemic disease, particularly in asymptomatic patients. Detection of subretinal drusenoid deposits in the retina should prompt them to refer the patient to a cardiologist, especially if no specialist has been involved before. This could prevent a life-threatening cardiac event”, concluded Richard B. Rosen, co-author of the work.
