1 Nov 2023 • Patients with retinal artery occlusions (RAOs) are recommended to have emergent stroke workup, although the true risk of death and subsequent vascular events post-RAO is not clear. In a retrospective cohort study published in JAMA Ophthalmology, researchers aimed to assess the risk of death and subsequent vascular events in patients who experienced retinal artery occlusion compared to a matched control group.

• The study, which analyzed electronic health records from over 34,000 patients, revealed that individuals post-RAO faced an elevated risk of death, stroke, and myocardial infarction (MI) compared to a control group diagnosed with cataracts.
• The increased risk was evident not only in the short term, within 2 weeks and 30 days after RAO diagnosis, but also over longer periods of 1, 5, and 10 years.

Notably, the study findings suggest that this heightened risk, though lower than previously reported within the first month after RAO diagnosis, underscores the importance of comprehensive evaluation and ongoing systemic follow-up for patients following RAO events, emphasizing the need for a multidisciplinary approach in their care.

Source: JAMA | Read full story