Retinal microvascular abnormalities and 10-year cardiovascular mortality - A population-based case-control study

Abstract

PURPOSE: Retinal microvascular abnormalities reflect persistent arteriolar damage from hypertension and independently predict stroke. We examined their associations with long-term cardiovascular mortality. DESIGN: Population-based, nested, case-control study. POPULATION: Cases were Beaver Dam Eye Study participants (age range, 43-84 years) who died of coronary heart disease or stroke between the baseline examination in 1988 to 1990 and 1999 (n = 413). Nearly 3 controls per case were selected from the baseline cohort, frequency-matched on 5-year age intervals and gender (n = 1198). METHODS: Retinal photographs of cases and controls at baseline were evaluated for retinopathy, focal arteriolar ..