Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease (Mar 2022)

Relationship of Quantitative Retinal Capillary Network and Myocardial Remodeling in Systemic Hypertension

  • Jacqueline Chua,
  • Thu‐Thao Le,
  • Yin Ci Sim,
  • Hui Yi Chye,
  • Bingyao Tan,
  • Xinwen Yao,
  • Damon Wong,
  • Briana W. Y. Ang,
  • Desiree‐Faye Toh,
  • Huishan Lim,
  • Jennifer A. Bryant,
  • Tien Yin Wong,
  • Calvin Woon Loong Chin,
  • Leopold Schmetterer

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.024226
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 11, no. 6

Abstract

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Background This study examined the associations between quantitative optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) parameters and myocardial abnormalities as documented on cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging in patients with systemic hypertension. Methods and Results We conducted a cross‐sectional study of 118 adults with hypertension (197 eyes). Patients underwent cardiovascular magnetic resonance imaging and OCTA (PLEX Elite 9000, Carl Zeiss Meditec). Associations between OCTA parameters (superficial and deep retinal capillary density) and adverse cardiac remodeling (left ventricular mass, remodeling index, interstitial fibrosis, global longitudinal strain, and presence of left ventricular hypertrophy) were studied using multivariable linear regression analysis with generalized estimating equations. Of the 118 patients with hypertension enrolled (65% men; median [interquartile range] age, 59 [13] years), 29% had left ventricular hypertrophy. After adjusting for age, sex, systolic blood pressure, diabetes, and signal strength of OCTA scans, patients with lower superficial capillary density had significantly higher left ventricular mass (β=−0.150; 95% CI, −0.290 to −0.010), higher interstitial volume (β=−0.270; 95% CI, −0.535 to −0.0015), and worse global longitudinal strain (β=−0.109; 95% CI, −0.187 to −0.032). Lower superficial capillary density was found in patients with hypertension with replacement fibrosis versus no replacement fibrosis (16.53±0.64 mm‐1 versus 16.96±0.64 mm‐1; P=0.003). Conclusions We showed significant correlations between retinal capillary density and adverse cardiac remodeling markers in patients with hypertension, supporting the notion that the OCTA could provide a non‐invasive index of microcirculation alteration for vascular risk stratification in people with hypertension.

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