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Early age-related macular degeneration in patients with myocardial infarction
Rasa Liutkeviciene1, Vaiva Lesauskaite, Dalia Zaliuniene
1Department of Ophthalmology, Lithuanian University of Health Sciences, Medicine Academy, Kaunas, Lithuania. rliutkeviciene@gmail.com
Purpose:
To investigate the prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI).
Methods:
Enrolled in the study were 262 acute MI patients (MI group), aged 40-64 years, as well as 1,155 non-MI persons, aged 40-64 years, from a random sample (reference group) of the Kaunas population.
Results:
The prevalence of early AMD in the random sample was 7.3%, while in MI patients, the prevalence was 54.5% (P < 0.001). For all age groups, the prevalence of early AMD was significantly (P < 0.005) higher in MI patients than in reference-group persons. In the reference group, the prevalence of early AMD increased significantly with age, whereas no such trend was observed in the MI group. At the 45- to 54-year-olds, the prevalence was significantly higher in males than in females (9.9% vs. 3.7%; P < 0.05) in the reference group, while overall, the prevalence of early AMD in the males and females of the much larger reference group was 8.6% versus 6.2%, respectively (P > 0.05). It increased more with age for females (3.7% and 10.8% at the age 45-54 and 55-64 years, P < 0.05, respectively) while in males, frequency of AMD did not differ significantly between latter age groups (9.9% vs. 11.6%; P > 0.05).
Conclusions:
We conclude that the prevalence of early AMD is significantly higher in patients with MI than in a random sample of the population.
Insights
Patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) have a significantly higher prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD). This study found early AMD in 54.5% of MI patients compared to 7.3% in the general population.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology and Cardiology
- Investigates the intersection of ocular and cardiovascular health.
Background:
- Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a leading cause of vision loss.
- Acute myocardial infarction (MI) represents a significant cardiovascular event.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in individuals who have experienced acute myocardial infarction (MI).
- To compare AMD prevalence between MI patients and a general population sample.
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 262 acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients aged 40-64 was compared to 1,155 individuals from a random population sample (reference group) of similar age.
- Prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was assessed in both groups.
Main Results:
- Early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) was found in 54.5% of acute myocardial infarction (MI) patients, significantly higher than the 7.3% observed in the reference group (P < 0.001).
- The prevalence of early AMD increased with age in the reference group but not in the MI group.
- In the reference group, males aged 45-54 had higher early AMD prevalence than females; this trend differed by age for females compared to males.
Conclusions:
- The prevalence of early age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is substantially higher in patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI) compared to the general population.
- Findings suggest a potential link or shared risk factors between AMD and MI.
