Age-related macular degeneration and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: the Cardiovascular Health Study.
OBJECTIVE
To examine the associations of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) with incident coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in the Cardiovascular Health Study.


METHODS
Population-based prospective cohort study.


METHODS
A total of 1786 white and African-American participants free of CHD or 2228 participants free of stroke, aged 69 to 97 years.


METHODS
AMD was evaluated from photographs taken in 1997 and 1998.


METHODS
Incident CHD and stroke ascertained using standardized methods.


RESULTS
Of the 1786 persons free of CHD, 303 developed incident CHD over 7 years. Participants with early AMD (n = 277) had a higher cumulative incidence of CHD than participants without early AMD (25.8% vs. 18.9%, P = 0.001). By adjusting for age, gender, race, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, hypertension status, fasting glucose, triglyceride, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, cigarette smoking, pack years of smoking, and C-reactive protein, the presence of early AMD was associated with an increased risk of incident CHD (hazard ratio 1.57; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-2.22). Late AMD (n = 25) was not associated with incident CHD (hazard ratio 0.78; 95% confidence interval, 0.25-2.48). Among 2228 persons at risk, 198 developed incident stroke; neither early nor late AMD was associated with incident stroke.


CONCLUSIONS
This study suggests persons with early AMD have a higher risk of CHD but not stroke in a population aged 69 to 97 years. This provides further support that AMD is associated with underlying systemic vascular disease.
Sun
Cong
C
Centre for Eye Research Australia, Department of Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, VIC, Australia.
Klein
Ronald
R
Wong
Tien Y
TY
D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D008078:Cholesterol, LDL / Q000097:blood; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology
D008078:Cholesterol, LDL; D014280:Triglycerides