Invited Commentary

Commentary on “Age-Related Macular Degeneration and Coronary Artery Disease in a VA Population”

Authors: Anna W. Berry, MD, MPH, Miranda Bishara, MD

Abstract

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and coronary artery disease (CAD) are common in older adults and share multiple risk factors, but the association between the two diseases is still not well defined.1,2 Both diseases are causes of significant morbidity, with AMD being the leading cause of vision loss in individuals older than age 653 and heart disease being the leading cause of death.4 In this issue of the Southern Medical Journal, Ziada and colleagues report their findings of a retrospective chart review of approximately 13,000 veterans. This study found a statistically significant association of CAD with AMD in individuals older than age 75 compared with those without AMD.5

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References

1. Tan JS, Wang JJ, Liew G, et al. Age-related macular degeneration and mortality from cardiovascular disease or stroke. Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:509-512.
 
2. Wong TY, Tikellis G, Sun C, et al. Age-related macular degeneration and risk of coronary heart disease: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study. Ophthalmology 2007;114:86-91.
 
3. Foran S, Wang JJ, Mitchell P. Causes of visual impairment in two older population cross-sections: the Blue Mountains Eye Study. Ophthalmic Epidemiol 2003;10:215-225.
 
4. Gillespie CD, Wigington C, Hong Y, et al. Coronary heart disease and stroke deaths--United States, 2009. MMWR Surveill Summ 2013;62(Suppl 3):157-160.
 
5. Thomas J, Mohammad S, Charnigo R, et al. Age-related macular degeneration and coronary artery disease in a VA population. South Med J 2015;108:502-506.
 
6. Sun C, Klein R, Wong TY. Age-related macular degeneration and risk of coronary heart disease and stroke: the Cardiovascular Health Study. Ophthalmology 2009;116:1913-1919.
 
7. Wang SB, Mitchell P, Chiha J, et al. Severity of coronary artery disease is independently associated with the frequency of early age-related macular degeneration. Br J Ophthalmol 2015;99:365-370.