Development and validation of a routine blood parameters-based model for screening the occurrence of retinal...

Timely detection and treatment of retinal detachment (RD) could effectively save vision and reduce the risk of progressing visual field defects. High myopia (HM) is known to be associated with an increased risk of RD. Evidently, it should be clearly discriminated the individuals with high or low risk of RD in patients with HM. By using multi-parametric analysis, risk assessment, and other techniques, it is crucial to create cutting-edge screening programs that may be utilized to improve population eye health and develop person-specific, cost-effective preventative, and targeted therapeutic measures. Therefore, we propose a novel, routine blood parameters-based prediction model as a screening program to help distinguish who should offer detailed ophthalmic examinations for RD diagnosis, prevent visual field defect progression, and provide personalized, serial monitoring in the context of predictive, preventive, and personalized medicine (PPPM/3 PM).

This population-based study included 20,870 subjects (HM = 19,284, HMRD = 1586) who underwent detailed routine blood tests and ophthalmic evaluations. HMRD cases and HM controls were matched using a nested case-control design. Then, the HMRD cases and HM controls were randomly assigned to the discovery cohort, validation cohort 1, and validation cohort 2 maintaining a 6:2:2 ratio, and other subjects were assigned to the HM validation cohort. Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis was performed to select feature indexes. Feature indexes were integrated into seven algorithm models, and an optimal model was selected based on the highest area under the curve (AUC) and accuracy.

Six feature indexes were selected: lymphocyte, basophil, mean platelet volume, platelet distribution width, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and lymphocyte-to-monocyte ratio. Among the algorithm models, the algorithm of conditional probability (ACP) showed the best performance achieving an AUC of 0.79, a diagnostic accuracy of 0.72, a sensitivity of 0.71, and a specificity of 0.74 in the discovery cohort. A good performance of the ACP model was also observed in the validation cohort 1 (AUC = 0.81, accuracy = 0.72, sensitivity = 0.71, specificity = 0.73) and validation cohort 2 (AUC = 0.77, accuracy = 0.71, sensitivity = 0.70, specificity = 0.72). In addition, ACP model calibration was found to be good across three cohorts. In the HM validation cohort, the ACP model achieved a diagnostic accuracy of 0.81 for negative classification.

We have developed a routine blood parameters-based model with an ACP algorithm that could potentially be applied in the clinic with a PPPM approach for serial monitoring and predicting the occurrence of RD in HM and can facilitate the prevention of HM progression to RD. According to the current study, routine blood measures are essential in patient risk classification, predictive diagnosis, and targeted therapy. Therefore, for high-risk RD persons, novel screening programs and prompt treatment plans are essential to enhance individual outcomes and healthcare offered to the community with HM.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13167-023-00319-3.