title: Severity of coronary artery disease is independently associated with the frequency of early age-related macular degeneration.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the prevalence of early, late and any age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in a clinical cohort (Australian Heart Eye Study, AHES) and to determine whether associations exist between extent and severity of coronary artery disease (CAD) and AMD, independent of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
  
  
  METHODS
  The AHES is an observational study that surveyed 1680 participants between 2009 and 2012 who presented to a tertiary referral hospital for the evaluation of potential CAD by coronary angiography. Severity and extent of CAD was assessed using three scoring systems: (1) segment/vessel scores, (2) Gensini and (3) extent scores.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Prevalence of early and late AMD was 5.8% (n=86) and 1.4% (n=21), respectively. After multivariable adjustment, patients with stenosis >50% in any coronary artery segment (vessel score) had approximately twofold higher odds of early AMD, OR 1.95 (95% CI 1.07 to 3.57). Patients with obstructive coronary stenosis in all three main coronary arteries (segment score) had greater than twofold higher likelihood of early AMD, OR 2.67 (95% CI 1.24 to 5.78). Participants in the highest versus lowest tertile of Gensini scores were also twice as likely to have early AMD, multivariable-adjusted OR 2.27 (95% CI 1.12 to 4.58). Extent scores were not associated with AMD. There was no significant association between CAD and late AMD.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Severity of coronary stenosis and the presence of stenotic lesions were independently associated with early AMD. These findings could have potential clinical significance as they suggest that individuals with evidence of CAD may be screened for early AMD.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Sarah B
authors.initials: SB
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mitchell
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiha
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Liew
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Adam J H
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Plant
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Aravinda
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thiagalingam
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Burlutsky
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Bamini
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Gopinath
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015331:Cohort Studies; D017023:Coronary Angiography; D023921:Coronary Stenosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D057092:Geographic Atrophy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009517:New South Wales / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D057135:Wet Macular Degeneration / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult