Optical coherence tomography angiography quantitative analysis and 10-year cardiovascular disease risk in the general population.

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of our study was to analyze the association between different cardiovascular risk scores and swept-source optical coherence tomography angiography (SS-OCTA) quantitative parameters in the general population.

Materials and methods: We performed a retrospective study. This study enrolled 111 eyes of 111 healthy patients. OCTA quantitative parameters (vessel density [VD] and foveal avascular zone area of superficial capillary plexus [SCP], deep capillary plexus [DCP], total capillary plexus, and choriocapillaris [CC]) of the OCTA cube of 4.5 mm × 4.5 mm were recorded.

Results: A decrease of parafoveal and total VD in TCP was demonstrated in patients with higher cardiovascular risk (P < 0.05). Conversely, no differences were demonstrated in VD at SCP, DCP, and CC (P > 0.05). Correlation analysis showed a significant, although poor, negative correlation between parafoveal and total VD at SCP and TCP and 10-year cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk (P < 0.05 and r < 0.500).

Conclusion: When normative data are available, OCTA quantitative analysis might be used as a main tool for the primary prevention of CVD. Nevertheless, further prospective studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.