title: Patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration in Spain display a high cardiovascular risk.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Cardiovascular disease and its risk factors may have a significant role in the development of neovascular age-related macular degeneration (NV-AMD). This study aims to assess the impact of these factors in this population and define their level of cardiovascular risk according to the Framingham model.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional, observational, multicenter study that included patients aged 50 years or older who attended ophthalmic centers for the diagnosis or follow-up of NV-AMD. Information collected included demographic and AMD data, a complete history of cardiovascular disease and its risk factors, lipid profile, blood pressure, and treatment history.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study population consisted of 901 patients, predominantly Caucasian, with a mean age of 75.7 years, receiving anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy for their NV-AMD in 77.7% of the cases. Blood pressure measurement during the study visit and lipid analyses revealed poor control in 67.7% and 93.3% of the patients, respectively. Hypertension was the most prevalent cardiovascular risk factor (77.7%), followed by a history of cardiac disease or other forms of atherosclerotic disease (53.8%). Diabetes was present in 28% of the subjects. The study population was considered a high-risk population according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Expert Panel Clinical Guidelines (NCEP ATP III), with a probability of a cardiovascular event in 10 years of 19.3% according to the Framingham model.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This NV-AMD population is associated with a significant cardiovascular risk, and the Framingham model can help us identify those subjects with higher risk levels in order to improve their overall management.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Hospital Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain. oleajl@eresmas.net
authors.forename: Jose Luis
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Olea
authors.forename: José
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tuñón
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors / Q000627:therapeutic use; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D044465:White People
chemical_list: D020533:Angiogenesis Inhibitors; C467484:VEGFA protein, human; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D002784:Cholesterol