Pseudoexfoliation and aortic aneurysm: a long-term follow-up study

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Cardiovascular Medicine
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) syndrome is a common condition associated with ocular complications.
• Aortic aneurysms are serious vascular conditions with significant morbidity and mortality.
• The potential association between PEX and aortic aneurysms requires investigation, particularly in populations with high PEX prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and the incidence of aortic aneurysm.
• To assess this association in a Swedish population with a high prevalence of PEX.

Main Methods:

• A population-based cohort study was conducted in Tierp, Sweden, involving 1775 subjects (aged 65-74 years at baseline).
• Data were collected from population surveys and glaucoma case records, with a follow-up exceeding 25,400 person-years.
• Medical records and autopsy reports were reviewed to identify cases of aortic aneurysm; subjects with less than one year of follow-up were excluded.

Main Results:

• A total of 60 new cases of aortic aneurysm were identified by September 2017.
• Pseudoexfoliation (PEX) was present in 23% of subjects with aortic aneurysm at baseline.
• No statistically significant association was found between PEX and the development of aortic aneurysm (Hazard Ratio: 0.97, 95% CI: 0.53-1.77).

Conclusions:

• This population-based study did not find evidence to support a relationship between pseudoexfoliation (PEX) and aortic aneurysm.
• The findings suggest that PEX may not be a significant risk factor for aortic aneurysm development.