Retinal emboli and cardiovascular disease: the Beaver Dam Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the 10-year incidence of retinal emboli, associated risk factors, and relationship of retinal emboli at baseline to stroke and ischemic heart disease mortality.


METHODS
The Beaver Dam Eye Study is a large (N = 4926) population-based study of persons 43 to 86 years of age at the time of the baseline examination. Retinal emboli were detected at baseline (1988-1990) and at a 5-year (1993-1995) and 10-year (1998-2000) follow-up by grading of stereoscopic 30 degrees color fundus photographs using standardized protocols. Cause-specific mortality was determined from death certificates.


RESULTS
The 10-year cumulative incidence of retinal emboli was 1.5%. After adjustment for age and sex, the incidence of retinal emboli was associated with increased pulse pressure (odds ratio [OR] [fourth vs first quartile range], 2.42; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.98-5.97; P =.03, for test of trend), higher serum total cholesterol level (OR, 2.77; 95% CI, 1.06-7.23; P =.03), higher white blood cell count (OR, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.04-4.96; P =.05), smoking status (OR [current vs never-smoker], 4.60; 95% CI, 2.08-10.16; P<.001), and a history of coronary artery bypass surgery (OR, 7.17; 95% CI, 3.18-16.18; P<.001) at baseline. After controlling for age, sex, and systemic factors, a significantly higher hazard of dying with a mention of stroke on the death certificate was found in people with retinal emboli (hazard ratio, 2.40; 95% CI, 1.16-4.99) compared with those without.


CONCLUSIONS
We found associations of smoking and cardiovascular disease with the incidence of retinal emboli. Persons with retinal emboli are also at increased risk of stroke-related death.
Klein
Ronald
R
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison, 53726-2336, USA. kleinr@epi.opth.wisc.edu
Klein
Barbara E K
BE
Moss
Scot E
SE
Meuer
Stacy M
SM
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002423:Cause of Death; D004617:Embolism / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017202:Myocardial Ischemia / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015356:Retinal Artery Occlusion / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D020521:Stroke / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality*; D014922:Wisconsin / Q000453:epidemiology