Association Between Caliber of Retinal Vessels and Cardiovascular Disease: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Shaohua Guo1, Songtao Yin2, Gary Tse1

  • 1Tianjin Key Laboratory of Ionic-Molecular Function of Cardiovascular disease, Department of Cardiology, Tianjin Institute of Cardiology, Second Hospital of Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, 300211, People's Republic of China.

Insights

Retinal vascular caliber is a key biomarker for cardiovascular disease risk. This review synthesizes evidence on the link between retinal vessel size and conditions like heart disease and stroke.

Area of Science:

  • Ophthalmology
  • Cardiology
  • Biomarkers

Background:

  • Retinal vascular caliber is an emerging biomarker.
  • It aids in risk stratification for cardiovascular diseases (CVDs).
  • Includes coronary artery disease, heart failure, stroke, and mortality.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis.
  • To investigate the association between retinal vascular caliber and cardiovascular diseases.

Main Methods:

  • Systematic review of existing literature.
  • Meta-analysis of pooled data.

Main Results:

  • Retinal vascular caliber is significantly associated with cardiovascular disease risk.
  • Non-invasive retinal vasculature assessment shows potential for CVD screening.

Conclusions:

  • Retinal vascular caliber serves as a valuable indicator for cardiovascular health.
  • Future research should explore incorporating retinal vessel anatomy into CVD risk scoring systems.
Abstract

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