A study shows that screening during routine eye exams can detect patients at risk of heart attack.
Experts say the tests will allow doctors to intervene early and reduce the risk.
This includes advice on smoking and exercise, or the prescription of medicines to combat cholesterol and high blood pressure.
Researchers from the University of Edinburgh used the scans to generate a personalized risk score for each patient.
It combines information about the pattern of blood vessels in the retina at the back of the eye with genetic data, age, gender, blood pressure and weight. Their analysis was based on data from the UK Biobank, which contains comprehensive medical information on 500,000 individuals.
A study shows that screening during routine eye exams can detect patients at risk of heart attack. Experts say the tests will allow doctors to intervene early and reduce risk
This includes advice on smoking and exercise, or the prescription of medicines to combat cholesterol and high blood pressure. Researchers from the University of Edinburgh used the scans to generate a personalized risk score for each patient
The model was better able to predict heart attack risk than current methods, and the scientists say it could be used as a screening method.
Researcher Ana Villaplana-Velasco: “We already knew that differences in the blood vessels of the retina can provide insight into our health. Because retinal imaging is a non-invasive technique, we decided to investigate the health benefits we can derive from these images.
We have found that the lower fractal dimension – simplified branching patterns of blood vessels – is associated with coronary artery disease and consequently with myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack.
It is thought that different patterns of blood vessels in the retina could also be used to determine the likelihood of developing diabetes and stroke. The average age for having a heart attack is 60, so calculating an individual risk score would be appropriate starting at age 50, according to Ms. Villaplana-Velasco.
She added: “This will allow clinicians to suggest behaviors that may reduce risk, such as smoking cessation and maintaining normal cholesterol and blood pressure.
Our work demonstrates the importance of a comprehensive analysis of routinely collected data.
The results will be presented today at the annual conference of the European Society of Human Genetics.
“This study demonstrates the importance of prevention now and how personal health gives us the tools to do it,” said Professor Alexandre Raymond, president of the conference.
One expert warned that the need to include genetic data in the calculation means that its use in practice may be limited.