Eyes Might Be Window Into Common Heart Disorder

Atrial Fibrillation Friday, November 22nd, 2013

Healthday: 11/18/13

Damage to blood vessels of the retinas and kidneys tied to higher risk for atrial fibrillation, study found

MONDAY, Nov. 18, 2013 (HealthDay News) — Damage to the blood vessels of the eyes or kidneys might help identify people who are at raised risk for a common type of heart-rhythm disorder, a new study suggests.

The disorder, called atrial fibrillation, is common in older people and increases the risk of stroke. It also can trigger heart-related chest pain or heart failure in some patients, the researchers said.

In the new study, which is scheduled for presentation Monday at the annual meeting of the American Heart Association in Dallas, researchers followed more than 10,000 middle-aged people for an average of almost 14 years.

Researchers led by Sunil Agarwal, of Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore, found that microvascular changes — trouble in the smaller vessels of the eyes or kidneys — appeared to be linked to the presence of atrial fibrillation. Read More

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