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Characterization of Vascular Morphology of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Indocyanine Green Angiography
05:14

Characterization of Vascular Morphology of Neovascular Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Indocyanine Green Angiography

Published on: August 11, 2023

Cardiovascular disease and hypertension are strong risk factors for choroidal neovascularization

Ruth E Hogg1, Jayne V Woodside, Sarah E C M Gilchrist

  • 1Centre for Vision Sciences, Belfast, United Kingdom.

Ophthalmology
|October 24, 2007
PubMed

Insights

Cardiovascular disease and lifestyle factors like smoking and high BMI are linked to neovascular age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Managing these risks may help prevent AMD development in older adults.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cardiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss in older adults.
  • Neovascular AMD, a severe form, is characterized by abnormal blood vessel growth in the macula.
  • Understanding the etiological factors of neovascular AMD is crucial for developing preventive strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the association between cardiovascular risk factors and inflammatory markers with neovascular AMD.
  • To identify modifiable risk factors contributing to the development of choroidal neovascularization.

Main Methods:

  • A cross-sectional case-control study involving community-dwelling individuals aged 65 years and older.
  • Participants underwent ophthalmic examinations, fundus imaging, and interviews for risk factor assessment.
  • Analysis included serum lipid levels, inflammatory markers (ICAM, VCAM, CRP), and cardiovascular disease history.

Main Results:

  • A history of cardiovascular disease was strongly associated with neovascular AMD (OR, 7.53).
  • Positive associations were found for cigarette smoking (OR, 3.71), high body mass index (OR, 3.82), hypertension (OR, 3.21), and high serum cholesterol (OR, 4.66).
  • No significant association was observed between AMD status and serum CRP, ICAM, or VCAM levels.

Conclusions:

  • Cardiovascular disease appears to play an etiological role in the development of choroidal neovascularization in some older adults.
  • Controlling blood pressure, maintaining healthy cholesterol levels, avoiding smoking, and managing body weight are important for AMD prevention.
  • Inflammatory markers (CRP, ICAM, VCAM) were not found to be associated with AMD in this study.
Abstract

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