title: Association between Retinal Arteriolar and Venule Calibre with Prevalent Heart Failure: A Cross-Sectional Study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is evidence to suggest that microvascular disease, particularly diabetic retinopathy, plays a role in the pathogenesis of HF. However, whether changes in retinal vessel calibre predicts HF is unclear. The purpose of this study was to examine the association of retinal microvascular structure with prevalent heart failure (HF).
  
  
  METHODS
  The Australian Heart Eye Study (AHES) is a cross-sectional study that surveyed 1680 participants who presented to a tertiary referral hospital for the evaluation of potential coronary artery disease by coronary angiography. Retinal vessel calibre was graded using retinal photography and participants' self-reported echocardiography-confirmed HF was obtained via an extensive medical questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 107 participants (8.1%) with prevalent self-reported HF. Persons with wider retinal arteriolar calibre (comparing highest versus lowest tertile or reference) were more likely to have prevalent HF (OR 3.5; 95% CI, 1.7-7.2) when adjusted for age and sex. After further adjustment for body mass index, hypertension, diabetes, smoking status, triglycerides and estimated glomerular filtration rate, this association remained significant (OR 4.5; 95% CI, 2.0-9.8). After further stratification, this association remained significant among participants with diabetes (OR 10.3; 95% CI, 2.7-39.3) but not in those without diabetes (OR 2.7; 95% CI, 0.9-7.5). The strength of this association was not dependent on the length of history of diabetes, or retinopathy status. There was no significant association between retinal venular calibre and prevalence of HF.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Wider retinal arteriolar diameter was significantly and independently associated with prevalent HF in participants of a cross-sectional study. This association was significant stronger among participants with diabetes compared to without diabetes. No association was found between retinal venule calibre with prevalent HF.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology and Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.
authors.forename: Kevin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Phan
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 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
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Plant
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: Cheryl
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Au
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Joseph
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chiha
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, NSW, Australia.
authors.forename: Pramesh
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kovoor
authors.affiliation: Centre for Heart Research, Westmead Millennium Institute, University of Sydney, NSW, 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: D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D005919:Glomerular Filtration Rate; D006333:Heart Failure / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D014280:Triglycerides