The study found that during regular eye exams, it can detect patients at risk for heart attack, allowing doctors to intervene early and reduce the risk.
Researchers at the University of Edinburgh used the scans to determine each patient’s personal risk score, combining information about the pattern of blood vessels in the retina behind the eye with genetic data, age, gender, blood pressure and weight.
Their analysis is based on UK Biobank records, which contain extensive medical information on 500,000 people.
The model better predicts heart attack risk than current methods, and scientists said it could be used as a screening method.
He added: “We found that lower fractal dimension and simplified vascular branching patterns were associated with coronary artery disease and thus myocardial infarction, commonly known as heart attack.”
It is assumed that different types of blood vessels in the retina can also be used to determine the likelihood of having diabetes and stroke, and the average age of having a heart attack is 60, so the calculation of the score of risk will be appropriate individual for 50 years. of age.
“This will allow doctors to suggest behaviors that can reduce risk, such as quitting smoking and maintaining normal cholesterol levels and blood pressure,” Velasco added.
“Our work demonstrates the importance of comprehensive analysis of regularly collected data.”
The findings are to be presented at the annual conference of the European Society for Human Genetics and the conference president Professor Alexandre Raymond commented: “This study demonstrates the importance of prevention implementation today and how it is given we have the personal health tools to do so ”.
One expert warns that the need to include genetic data in the calculation means its use may be limited in practice.
Source: Daily Mail
Source: Arabic RT
