Jin Hyung Kim1,2, Seong Eun Kim1, Seo Hee Kim1, Byoung Wook Choi3, Tyler Hyungtaek Rim1,4,5, Suk Ho Byeon1, Sung Soo Kim6. 1. Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 2. Eyereum Eye Clinic, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 3. Department of Radiology and Research Institute of Radiological Science, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 4. Singapore Eye Research Institute, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore, Singapore. 5. Duke-NUS Medical School, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore. 6. Institute of Vision Research, Department of Ophthalmology, Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Republic of Korea, md.semekim@gmail.com.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between coronary artery calcification and subfoveal thicknesses of individual chorioretinal layers in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis by using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography. METHODS: In this retrospective, noninterventional, cross-sectional study, we included 193 eyes from 193 subjects and divided them into three cardiovascular (CV) risk groups based on coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores calculated from cardiac-gated computed tomography: low (CAC = 0; n = 77), intermediate (CAC = 1-300; n = 83), and high (CAC >300; n = 33). Central macula individual retinal layer thicknesses and subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured and compared among groups. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate associations of subfoveal choroidal thickness or central retinal thickness with CAC scores. RESULTS: Average subfoveal choroidal thickness differed significantly among low, intermediate, and high CV risk groups (all p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant changes in segmented retinal layer thickness of the central macula. Multivariate regression analyses showed that higher CAC scores were significantly negatively associated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (β = -2.169, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher CAC scores were significantly associated with subfoveal choroidal thinning in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis. Prominent reductions in the subfoveal choroidal layer could provide a useful biomarker for predicting CV risk in patients of advanced age with subclinical atherosclerosis.
PURPOSE: To evaluate the relationship between coronary artery calcification and subfoveal thicknesses of individual chorioretinal layers in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis by using enhanced-depth imaging optical coherence tomography. METHODS: In this retrospective, noninterventional, cross-sectional study, we included 193 eyes from 193 subjects and divided them into three cardiovascular (CV) risk groups based on coronary artery calcification (CAC) scores calculated from cardiac-gated computed tomography: low (CAC = 0; n = 77), intermediate (CAC = 1-300; n = 83), and high (CAC >300; n = 33). Central macula individual retinal layer thicknesses and subfoveal choroidal thickness were measured and compared among groups. Multivariate linear regression was used to evaluate associations of subfoveal choroidal thickness or central retinal thickness with CAC scores. RESULTS: Average subfoveal choroidal thickness differed significantly among low, intermediate, and high CV risk groups (all p < 0.05). There were no statistically significant changes in segmented retinal layer thickness of the central macula. Multivariate regression analyses showed that higher CAC scores were significantly negatively associated with subfoveal choroidal thickness (β = -2.169, p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Higher CAC scores were significantly associated with subfoveal choroidal thinning in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis. Prominent reductions in the subfoveal choroidal layer could provide a useful biomarker for predicting CV risk in patients of advanced age with subclinical atherosclerosis.