Predictive Value of Ocular Fundus Hemorrhage for Severe Coronary Artery Disease Assessed via SYNTAX Score

Aims/Background The relationship between retinal fundus hemorrhage and the severity of coronary artery lesions remains unclear. This study aimed to explore the incidence of fundus hemorrhage in patients at high risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and to examine its correlation with the SYNTAX score, a tool used to assess the complexity of coronary artery disease. Methods This retrospective study consecutively enrolled patients undergoing coronary angiography (CAG) at Beijing Anzhen Hospital Hospital from June 2019 to January 2020. Bilateral non-mydriatic fundus photography was performed to detect fundus hemorrhages. The SYNTAX score was calculated to quantify the severity of coronary artery lesions, and patients were divided into two groups: a high SYNTAX score (hSS) group (≥23 points) and a low SYNTAX score (lSS) group (≤22 points). Baseline demographic and clinical data were collected, along with relevant laboratory tests. Results A total of 878 patients were included in the study, with 177 in the hSS group and 701 in the lSS group. Fundus hemorrhage was observed in 91 patients (incidence: 10.36%, 95% confidence interval (CI): 8.35%-12.38%). The incidence of fundus hemorrhage was significantly higher in the hSS group compared to the lSS group (21.47% [38/177] vs. 7.56% [53/701], p < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis identified fundus hemorrhage, body mass index (BMI), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) as independent predictors of high SYNTAX scores. Conclusion Fundus hemorrhage is significantly associated with a higher SYNTAX score and may serve as a potential predictor of severe coronary artery lesions in clinical practice.