Fairfield CountyOphthalmologist Claudia Castiblanco, M.D. alerted patients with diabetes and
diabetic retinopathy about their increased risk of cardiovascular disease and
cardiovascular events. “We know very well that diabetes causes significant
blood vessel disease throughout a person’s body. Very important for to advise
patients about is the close association between the presence and severity of
diabetic retinopathy and future cardiovascular (CV) events such as heart attack
or stroke,” stated Dr. Castiblanco.
The relationship
between diabetic retinopathy, its 4-year progression, and CV outcomes including
CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke was analyzed in
participants in the Action
to Control Cardiovascular Risk in Diabetes (ACCORD) trial who also
participated in the ACCORD Eye Study. The diabetic retinopathy was classified
as either none, mild, moderate, or severe and whether it was worsening was also
graded. The hazard of CV death or nonfatal myocardial infarction or stroke
increased by 38% for every category of change in retinopathy severity and steps
of progression further raised the hazard. Thus
the researchers believe that both the severity of retinopathy and its
progression are determinants of predisposition to CV outcomes. “The health
of the retina may provide us with an anatomical index of the effect of
metabolic and blood vessel factors on future CV outcomes and events,”
summarized Dr. Castiblanco.
If you or someone you know has
questions or concerns about diabetes, diabetic eye problems, diabeticretinopathy and the risk of cardiovascular events such as heart attack or
stroke please call Doctor &
Associates-203-227-4113, visit Doctor
& Associates in Fairfield County or facebook.com/doctorandassociates to
schedule an appointment.
Doctor & Associates is a
leading Fairfield County Connecticut eye care practice with offices at 129 Kings Highway
North, Westport, Connecticut 06880, 195 Danbury Road, Wilton, Connecticut 06897
and 148 East Avenue, Norwalk, Connecticut 06851.
