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RETINAL VASCULAR OCCLUSION AND COVID-19 DIAGNOSIS: A Multicenter Population-Based Study
Jing-Xing Li1,2,3, James Cheng-Chung Wei4,5,6,7, Yu-Hsun Wang4
1Department of Internal Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Retina (Philadelphia, Pa.)
|October 12, 2023
Summary
COVID-19 diagnosis increases the risk of retinal vein occlusion, including branch retinal vein occlusion and central retinal vein occlusion. This risk is elevated in the 12 weeks following infection, highlighting a significant association between COVID-19 and retinal vascular events.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Infectious Diseases
- Public Health
Background:
- Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has been linked to various ocular conditions, notably retinal vascular occlusion.
- Understanding the specific risks associated with COVID-19 is crucial for patient care and public health strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between COVID-19 diagnosis and the subsequent risk of retinal vascular occlusion.
- To quantify the risk of specific types of retinal vascular occlusion following COVID-19 infection.
Main Methods:
- A retrospective cohort study utilizing the TriNetX network, encompassing 46 US healthcare organizations.
- Inclusion criteria involved laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 between January 1, 2020, and December 31, 2021.
- Multivariate analysis, including Cox proportional hazard regression, adjusted for age, sex, race, and comorbidities.
Main Results:
- The study analyzed 1,460,634 paired individuals, revealing a significantly higher risk of branch retinal vein occlusion (BRVO) in COVID-19 patients (HR 1.27).
- Cumulative incidence of BRVO was significantly elevated in the COVID-19 cohort (log-rank P = 0.014).
- A transient increased risk for central retinal vein occlusion (CRVO) (HR 1.59) and BRVO (HR 2.11) was observed within 12 weeks post-diagnosis.
Conclusions:
- Retinal vein occlusion, encompassing both central and branch types, is associated with COVID-19.
- The findings underscore the importance of monitoring for ocular complications in patients with a history of COVID-19.
