The influence of cardiovascular diseases on the development of neovascular AMD

Abstract

Abstract Purpose Identification of cardiovascular risk factors for neovascular form of age‐related macular degeneration (AMD). Methods 61 patients were studied prospectively, 44 women and 17 men, aged from 57 to 85 years old, treated at the Department of Ophthalmology of the Medical University of Bialystok in the years 2008‐2009 due to AMD. Each patient was given a full eye examination, their blood pressure was measured a few times and their glucose or lipid metabolism was labeled. AMD was diagnosed on the basis of fluorescein angiography and OCT. The patients were divided into two groups: the dry form of AMD ‐ 24 people and the wet form of AMD – 37 people. Groups were compared in terms of the following factors: age, sex, a history of coronary heart disease, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, a history of smoking. The results were statistically analysed using the Fisher test. Results It was found that people with wet AMD more often have unregulated blood pressure, impaired lipid and glucose metabolism, are more often active or passive smokers compared to patients with dry AMD; the differences are statistically significant (p<0.05). The ratio of women to men in the group with neovascular AMD was 4.4:3 and the dry form was 11:1 (p<0.05). In both groups there were no statistically significant differences regarding patient’s age and history of coronary heart disease. Conclusion 1. Unregulated blood pressure, abnormal lipid and glucose metabolism and smoking may pose potential risk factors for neovascular AMD. 2. Men more often have the wet rather than the dry form of AMD. Scientific work financed from the funds for science in 2009‐2011.