The presence and severity of diabeticretinopathy seems to predict the risk of future cardiovascular (CV) events such
as heart attack and stroke. In fact, there appears to be a rather close
association between diabetic retinopathy and having a heart attack or stroke.
Diabetic Retinopathy, Heart Attack & Stroke Risk
The relationship between diabeticretinopathy, its 4-year progression, and CV outcomes including CV death or
nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke was analyzed in participants in the Action to
Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) Trial who also
participated in the ACCORD Eye Study. The diabetic retinopathy was classified
as either none, mild, moderate, or severe and whether it was worsening was also
graded. The hazard of CV death or
nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke increased by 38% for every category of
change in retinopathy severity and steps of progression further raised the
hazard. Thus the researchers believe that both the severity of retinopathy and
its progression are determinants of predisposition to CV outcomes.
If you or
someone you know has questions about how diabetic retinopathy indicates the risk of heart
attack or stroke, please feel free to call Center for Sight at
508-730-2020, visit www.center-for-sight.com or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.
Center for
Sight is conveniently located at 1565 North Main Street, Suite 406, Fall River, Massachusetts 02720
for patients from
Massachusetts or Rhode Island.
