Long-term Clinical Outcomes After Retinal Artery Occlusion

Overview

Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a rare but vision-threatening vascular disorder that is commonly caused by embolic events originating from the heart or carotid arteries. Patients with RAO are known to have an increased risk of subsequent cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events, including ischemic stroke and myocardial infarction. However, long-term outcomes and optimal medical treatment strategies for these patients remain insufficiently characterized. The purpose of this nationwide population-based study is to investigate the incidence of long-term cardiovascular and cerebrovascular outcomes in patients diagnosed with retinal artery occlusion using the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database. In addition, the study aims to evaluate the impact of various medical therapies, including antiplatelet agents, anticoagulants, and statins, on long-term clinical outcomes.

Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is an acute retinal vascular disease that results in sudden and severe vision loss. RAO is typically classified into central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) and branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO), depending on the site of arterial obstruction. CRAO generally has a worse clinical prognosis compared with BRAO. Previous studies have demonstrated that RAO is associated with systemic vascular diseases and an increased risk of ischemic stroke and other cardiovascular events. Despite its clinical significance, effective evidence-based treatment strategies for RAO remain unclear. This study aims to evaluate the epidemiology and long-term cardiovascular outcomes of patients with RAO in Korea using the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database, which covers nearly the entire Korean population. Patients newly diagnosed with RAO between January 2010 and December 2024 will be identified. This nationwide population-based study may help clarify the long-term prognosis of RAO and identify optimal medical treatment strategies for improving clinical outcomes in these patients.

Conditions