Relationship between retinal vascular occlusions and incident cerebrovascular diseases: A systematic review and
Yue Zhou1, Wengen Zhu, Changyun Wang
1aDepartment of Ophthalmology bDepartment of Cardiovascular Medicine, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China.
Insights
Retinal vascular occlusions, including retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and retinal vein occlusion (RVO), significantly increase the risk of cerebrovascular diseases (CVD). This meta-analysis confirms a strong association between these conditions.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Neurology
- Vascular Medicine
Background:
- Retinal vascular occlusions (RVO and RAO) are conditions affecting blood vessels in the eye.
- The link between these retinal events and cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) requires further clarification due to inconsistent study results.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically evaluate the association between retinal vascular occlusions and the risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases.
Main Methods:
- A meta-analysis was conducted on 9 retrospective studies identified through systematic searches of Cochrane Library, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases up to January 2016.
- Data were extracted using predefined criteria and pooled using RevMan 5.3 software.
Main Results:
- Individuals with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) showed a 2.01-fold increased risk of CVD (P=0.005).
- Individuals with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) demonstrated a 1.37-fold increased risk of CVD (P<0.00001).
- Both central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) were significantly associated with higher CVD risks.
Conclusions:
- Published literature indicates that both RVO and RAO are linked to an elevated risk of CVD.
- Further prospective studies are recommended to solidify these findings and understand the causal relationship.
Abstract:
Several studies investigating the role of retinal vascular occlusions, on cerebrovascular diseases (CVD) have been reported, but the results are still inconsistent. We therefore sought to evaluate the relationship between retinal vascular occlusions and CVD.We systematically searched the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and ScienceDirect databases through January 31, 2016 for studies evaluating the effect of retinal vascular occlusions on the risk of CVD. Data were abstracted using predefined criteria, and then pooled by RevMan 5.3 software.A total of 9 retrospective studies were included in this meta-analysis. When compared with individuals without retinal vascular occlusions, both individuals with retinal artery occlusion (RAO) (odds ratio [OR] = 2.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.21-3.34; P = 0.005) and individuals with retinal vein occlusion (RVO) (OR = 1.37, 95% CI: 1.24-1.50; P < 0.00001) had higher risks of developing CVD. Additionally, both individuals with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) (OR = 2.00, 95% CI: 1.12-3.56; P = 0.02) and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) (OR = 1.60, 95% CI: 1.03-1.48; P = 0.04) were significantly associated with increased risk of CVD.Published literatures support both RVO and RAO are associated with increased risks of CVD. Further prospective studies are needed to confirm these findings.
