Posted: 23:10, 12 June 2022 | Updated: 23:13, 12 June 2022
A scan during routine eye exams could identify patients at high risk for heart attack, according to a study. Experts say the tests will allow doctors to intervene in a timely manner and reduce the risk. This could include tips on smoking and exercising or prescribing medications to fight cholesterol and high blood pressure. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh used the scans to create an individualized risk score for each patient. It combines information about the design of blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye with genetic data and age, sex, blood pressure and weight. Their analysis was based on records from the UK Biobank, which contains comprehensive medical information for 500,000 people. A scan during routine eye exams could identify patients at high risk for heart attack, according to a study. Experts say the tests will allow doctors to intervene in a timely manner and reduce the risk This could include tips on smoking and exercising or prescribing medications to fight cholesterol and high blood pressure. Researchers at the University of Edinburgh used the scans to create an individualized risk score for each patient The model was better able to predict the risk of heart attack than current methods and scientists say it could be used as a screening method. Researcher Ana Villaplana-Velasco said: “We already knew that variations in retinal vessels could provide information about our health. Since retinal imaging is a non-invasive technique, we decided to explore the health benefits we could get from these images. “We found that the lower fractal dimension – simplified vascular branching patterns – is associated with coronary heart disease and hence myocardial infarction, commonly known as heart attack.” It is believed that different blood vessel patterns in the retina could also be used to determine the chances of diabetes and stroke. The average age for a heart attack is 60, so calculating an individual risk score would be appropriate from the age of 50, according to Miss Villaplana-Velasco. He added: “This would allow doctors to suggest behaviors that could reduce the risk, such as quitting smoking and keeping cholesterol and blood pressure at normal levels. “Our work shows the importance of comprehensive analysis of the data collected regularly.” The findings will be presented at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics today. Professor Alexandre Reymond, president of the conference, said: “This study demonstrates the importance of implementing prevention now and how personalized health provides the tools to do so.” One expert warned that the need to include genetic data in the calculation meant that their use could be limited in practice.
