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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.
Insights
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.
Background:
Several ocular diseases have been reported in patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), especially retinal vascular occlusion. This study aimed to examine the risk of retinal vascular occlusion after COVID-19 diagnosis.
Methods:
This retrospective cohort study was based on 46 health care organizations in the United States using the TriNetX network. Individuals who had laboratory confirmation of COVID-19 from January 1, 2020, to December 31, 2021, were included. Multivariate analysis was adjusted on age, sex, race, and comorbidities, and hazard ratio was calculated using the Cox proportional hazard regression model.
Results:
A total of 1,460,634 paired individuals were enrolled for analysis. Patients with COVID-19 had a significantly higher risk of branch retinal vein occlusion (hazard ratio 1.27, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.04-1.52) than those without COVID-19. The cumulative incidence rate of branch retinal vein occlusion was also significantly higher in patients with COVID-19 compared with those without COVID-19 (log-rank P = 0.014). Within 12 weeks after COVID-19 diagnosis, the transient effect of central retinal vein occlusion (hazard ratio 1.59, 95% confidence interval 1.15-2.17) and branch retinal vein occlusion (hazard ratio 2.11, 95% confidence interval 1.51-2.95) were observed.
Conclusion:
This large-scale multicenter study demonstrated that retinal vein occlusion may be associated with COVID-19.
