gms | German Medical Science

102. Jahrestagung der DOG

Deutsche Ophthalmologische Gesellschaft e. V.

23. bis 26.09.2004, Berlin

Telemedical screening of retinal vessels ("Talking Eyes")

Meeting Abstract

  • corresponding author G. Michelson - Department of Ophthalmology, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • M. Groh - Center of Preventive Medicine and Ocular Diagnostics, Erlangen
  • M.J.M. Groh - Department of Ophthalmology, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • D. Baleanu - Department of Ophthalmology, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • J. Harazny - Center of Preventive Medicine and Ocular Diagnostics, Erlangen
  • P. Kolominsky-Rabas - Public Health Unit of Dept. of Neurology, University Erlangen-Nürnberg
  • R. Horstmann - Center of Preventive Medicine and Ocular Diagnostics, Erlangen

Evidenzbasierte Medizin - Anspruch und Wirklichkeit. 102. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Ophthalmologischen Gesellschaft. Berlin, 23.-26.09.2004. Düsseldorf, Köln: German Medical Science; 2004. Doc04dogFR.13.04

The electronic version of this article is the complete one and can be found online at: http://www.egms.de/en/meetings/dog2004/04dog280.shtml

Published: September 22, 2004

© 2004 Michelson et al.
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Outline

Text

Objective

Cerebral and retinal vessels show similar alterations under cardivascular risk factors, like arterial hypertension. The purpose was screening in respect to retinal microvacular abnormalities and validation of a subgroup with increased risk.

Methods

In a prospective study ("TalkingEyes") 7.163 subjects were screened (study I). For validation of the method in a subgroup of 107 subjects with a high vascular risk an extended evaluation of vascular factors was performed (study II). In study I the subjects were examined by a standardized medical history, a medical evaluation of the retina in respect to retinal microvacular abnormalities, and a computer-assisted measurement of the avR. The mean age was 48,2±8 y. The retina photographs were performed by a CANON-NM-camera. The data and images were stored electronically (MedStage, Siemens) at a server. The calculation of the avR, and the evaluation of the retinal images by an ophthalmologist were performed in a telemedical reading center. The reproducibility of the measurement of the avR was calculated by double-evaluation of 1.332 images. In study II subjects with high vascular risk were extensivly examined in respect to the vascular risk by several methods.

Results

Study I. The reproducibility index for the measurement of avR was 0,77. The mean avR was 0,83±0.09. The avR and retinal microvacular abnormalities correlated significantly with arterial hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body-mass-index, diabetes, hyperlipidemia, HDL-concentration, and cardiac diseases. Study II. 107 high risk subjects -selected from study I- showed a mean avR of 0.71±0.04. About 66% of these persons showed an increased blood pressure. We found in this group significant correlations between avR and the Low Densitity Lipoprotein-concentration and the Framingham-risk index.

Conclusions

Within a cross sectional study with more than 7.000 subjects we confirmed the mean avR of the ARIC study, and the strong correlation of avR with age and blood pressure. In a subgroup of N=107 with decreased avR we found significant correlations between avR and concentrations of blood lipid and the Framingham-score.