Vascular risk factors for optical coherence tomography-detected macular cysts: The Maastricht Study.

Abstract

To investigate whether higher blood pressure and greater arterial stiffness are associated with the presence of macular cysts and whether this association is already present in the absence of micro-aneurysms in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes. Using spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT), we performed a macular volume scan in 2647 individuals (mean age 60±8years, 50% men, 27% type 2 diabetes). The association between macular cysts and 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressure, pulse pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity and carotid distensibility was assessed by use of logistic regression. Twenty-four hours systolic blood pressure was associated with the presence of macular cysts [OR=1.03 (95% CI 1.00-1.05) per 1mmHg, p=0.03]. 24hr pulse pressure [OR=1.61 (95% CI 1.11-2.34) per 10mmHg, p=0.01] and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity [OR=1.16 (95% CI 1.02-1.32) per 1m/s, p=0.02] were associated with macular cysts, while carotid distensibility was not [OR=1.03 (95% CI 0.96-1.11) per 1.0*10-3 /kPa, p=0.45]. Associations were similar in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes and were already present in the absence of micro-aneurysms. Twenty-four hours systolic blood pressure, 24hr pulse pressure and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity are associated with the presence of OCT-detected macular cysts in individuals with and without type 2 diabetes, even in the absence of micro-aneurysms. Therefore, blood pressure and aortic stiffness are potential factors contributing to macular cysts.