Retinal Vascular Changes in Heart Failure with Preserved Ejection Fraction Using Optical Coherence Tomography...

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Cardiology
• Medical Imaging

Background:

• Systemic microvascular dysfunction is implicated in heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).
• Retinal microvascular and structural changes in HFpEF remain largely uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate differences in retinal microvascular and structural parameters between HFpEF patients and controls using optical coherence tomography angiography (OCT-A).
• To assess the association between retinal parameters and clinical/echocardiographic markers of diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study comparing 22 HFpEF patients and 24 controls.
• Retinal imaging using OCT-A to assess macular vessel density and retinal layer thickness.
• Echocardiography performed on HFpEF patients to evaluate diastolic function.

Main Results:

• HFpEF patients demonstrated significantly lower macular vessel density and macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer thickness compared to controls.
• A trend towards lower total retinal volume was observed in HFpEF patients.
• Reduced total retinal volume in HFpEF was associated with markers of diastolic dysfunction, independent of confounders.

Conclusions:

• HFpEF is associated with distinct retinal vascular and structural alterations.
• Retinal changes detected by OCT-A correlate with the severity of diastolic dysfunction in HFpEF.
• OCT-A shows potential for monitoring systemic microvascular changes and cardiac diastolic function in HFpEF.