EYE ON FIRE:

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EYE ON FIRE
EVOLVING EVIDENCE LINKS AGE-RELATED MACULAR
DEGENERATION
WITH SYSTEMIC INFLAMMATORY FINDINGS
Objective To explore the relationship between
age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and
cardiovascular disease (CVD), defined as
myocardial infarction, congestive heart failure,
and high blood pressure in this study.
Aim To improve the quality of care in a clinical
setting.
Hypothesis Is the history of CVD higher in a
cataract surgical population if AMD is present?
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Various studies have suggested there is a link
between inflammatory findings in the eye, such as
AMD, and systemic inflammatory diseases, such as
CVD. This cross-sectional study utilizing a
convenience sample of 384 patients compares the
prevalence of AMD in a population of cataract
surgical patients with their history of
CVD. Demographics mean age 75.17 8.49, women
64, white 94, history of CVD 210 patients, AMD
prevalence 100 patients.
Demographic data of the study population
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Univariate logistic regression models were
employed to explore the association between AMD
prevalence and history of CVD. Results show that
age and history of CVD are significantly
associated with AMD prevalence with odds ratios
(95 confidence interval) of 1.062 (1.029, 1.096)
and 1.78 (1.110, 2.854) at a p-value of 0.002 and
0.0167 respectively. The epidemiologic analysis
was performed by using retrospective analysis.
Prevalence of AMD among patients with a history
of CVD was 31 and was 20 among patients with no
history of CVD. The prevalence of CVD was 65
among patients with AMD and was 52 among
patients with no AMD. The prevalence comparison
was determined by the Chi-square test with a
resultant p-value of 0.016.
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Number of Patients in Study Number of Patients in Study Number of Patients in Study Number of Patients in Study
AMD No AMD Totals
CVD 65 145 210
No CVD 35 139 174
Totals 100 284 384
CVD history of MI, CHF and HBP CVD history of MI, CHF and HBP CVD history of MI, CHF and HBP
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Conclusion The data obtained from this patient
population supports the hypothesis that when
inflammatory ocular signs, such as AMD, are
observed, there is a strong association with
history of CVD in the same patient. In our
population the chance of a patient with AMD
having a history of CVD is 1.78 times greater
(78 increased chance) than that of a patient
with no AMD. Note This study was conducted in
the southeastern region of the United States of
America. This region is known as The Stroke
Belt due to the prevalence of stroke and CVD
within the population. Further study is needed to
investigate the association between AMD and CVD.
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Ophthalmologists should be cognizant of the
possibility of a patient with AMD having a
history of, or increased chance of, CVD.
Appropriate referral may be advisable to ensure
quality of care for the patient.
Analyses were performed using SAS software,
version 9.13
Plt0.05
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS   Thanks to Jun Tang, MS,
University of Tennessee Health Science Center
Alynda Callies, Director of Public Relations,
MECA Eye and Laser Center Gray McClatchy, High
School Honor Scholar Research Assistant