Retinal and Choroidal Alterations in Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis of OCT and OCT-A Findings with Emphasis on HFrEF.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

Retina and choroid, given their high metabolic demands, are vulnerable to ischemic injury during the hemodynamic instability associated with heart failure (HF). Despite this, posterior segment ocular changes in HF remain understudied. This systematic review and meta-analysis consolidates optical coherence tomography (OCT) and OCT angiography (OCT-A) findings in HF.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive search of Web of Science, PubMed/MEDLINE, and EMBASE on March 15, 2025. A random-effects meta-analysis of six studies was performed using Hedges' g to estimate effect sizes, with six additional studies included for qualitative synthesis (total n = 1139 eyes). The meta-analysis was limited to studies on heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF), as this w

SUBMITTER: Bayat K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12534680 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature