Retinal microvascular findings and risk of incident peripheral artery disease: An analysis from the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background and aims

Lower-extremity peripheral artery disease (PAD) is usually considered large artery disease. Interestingly, retinal microvascular findings were shown to predict PAD progression in diabetes. However, it is unknown whether retinal microvascular parameters are associated with incident PAD and its severe form, critical limb ischemia (CLI), in a community-based cohort.

Methods

Among 9371 ARIC participants (aged 49-72 years) free of a history of PAD, we quantified the associations of several retinal measures by retinal photography during the period 1993-1995 with PAD risk using Cox models. Incident PAD was defined as the first hospitalization with PAD diagnosis or leg revascularization (considered CLI if an additional diagnosis of ulcer, gangrene, or amputation)

SUBMITTER: Yang C 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7012766 | biostudies-literature | 2020 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature