Retinal vein occlusion linked to higher risk for CV events

(HealthDay)—Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is associated with an increased risk for cardiovascular events and all-cause mortality, according to a review published in the September issue of Retina.

Chris Y. Wu, M.D., from New York Eye and Ear Infirmary of Mount Sinai in New York City, and colleagues conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis to examine the correlation between baseline RVO and incident cardiovascular events and/or mortality. Data were included from 15 cohort studies with 474,466 patients (60,069 with RVO and 414,397 without RVO); each had a Newcastle-Ottawa scale score ≥6, indicating moderate-to-high quality.

The researchers observed correlations between RVO and an increased risk for stroke, myocardial infarction, heart failure, peripheral arterial disease, and all-cause mortality (pooled risk ratios, 1.45 [95 percent confidence interval (CI), 1.31 to 1.60], 1.26 [95 percent CI, 1.17 to 1.37], 1.53 [95 percent CI, 1.22 to 1.92], 1.26 [95 percent CI, 1.09 to 1.46], and 1.36 [95 percent CI, 1.02 to 1.81], respectively). There was no correlation between RVO and an increased risk for cardiovascular mortality (pooled risk ratio, 1.78; 95 percent CI, 0.70 to 4.48).

"More studies are needed to clarify the association of RVO and cardiovascular mortality, to determine the highest risk period for cardiovascular events/mortality after RVO, and to determine whether immediate cardiovascular evaluation, intervention for primary or secondary prevention, or counseling will decrease subsequent cardiovascular events or all-cause mortality," the authors write.