INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is an ophthalmic and systemic emergency requiring urgent diagnosis and treatment. Data regarding mortality in this group, especially in the European population, are modest. The aim of this study is to assess all-cause mortality in post-RAO patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS This is a retrospective, single-centre study involving 198 patients following RAO diagnosed in 2004-2020. The control group included 198 patients after cataract surgery matched for gender and age, with the date of cataract surgery corresponding to the date of the RAO. RESULTS The average follow-up of the study population was 6.32±2.15 years. Post-RAO patients had significantly higher risk of all-cause mortality (Log-rank test p = 0.001), also when stratified for ages below 75 years (Log-rank test p = 0.016) and those aged 75 and over (Log-rank test p = 0.001). In the group of patients without cardiovascular events before RAO/cataract surgery, post-RAO patients were also at higher risk of all-cause mortality (Log-rank test p = 0.011), but when stratified according to age, those observations were borderline significant (Log-rank test p = 0.083 for a group of patients aged less than 75 years, and p = 0.051 for patients aged 75 and over). Cox analysis showed that in the group of post-RAO patients, the main risk factors for all-cause mortality were age (HR 1.07, 95%CI 1.04-1.1; p < 0.001), ischemic heart disease (HR 1.72; 95%CI 1.08-2.72; p = 0.022), and permanent atrial fibrillation (HR 2.18, 95%CI 1.08-4.38; p = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS Regardless of age and previous cardiovascular events, post-RAO patients are at a higher risk of all-cause mortality than patients without a history of RAO.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the incidence of ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality in patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO). This single-center retrospective study included 139 patients diagnosed with RAO between 2009 and 2020. The control group included 139 age- and sex-matched patients without RAO who underwent cataract surgery. The year of the surgery corresponded to the year of RAO onset. During the 12-year follow-up, patients with RAO had a shorter time to death (49.95 vs. 15.74 months; p = 0.043), a higher all-cause mortality rate (log-rank p = 0.026, and a higher rate of the composite endpoint, including ischemic stroke, myocardial infarction, and all-cause mortality (log-rank p = 0.024), as compared with controls. Patients with RAO younger than 75 years showed a higher risk of cerebral ischemic stroke (log-rank p = 0.008), all-cause mortality (log-rank p = 0.023), and the composite endpoint (log-rank p = 0.001) than controls. However, these associations were not demonstrated for patients aged 75 years or older. Our study confirms that patients with RAO have a higher risk of all-cause mortality than those without RAO. Moreover, patients with RAO who are younger than 75 years are significantly more likely to experience ischemic stroke, death, or the composite endpoint after an occlusion event, as compared with individuals without RAO.

Migotanie przedsionkow (AF, atrial fibrillation ) to najcześciej spotykane zaburzenie rytmu serca bedące przyczyną udaru niedokrwiennego mozgu. Niedroznośc naczyn tetniczych siatkowki (RAO, retinal artery occlusion ), uznana za ekwiwalent udaru niedokrwiennego mozgu, to jedna z przyczyn naglej utraty wzroku, ktora wiąze sie ze zwiekszonym ryzykiem wystąpienia incydentow sercowo-naczyniowych. Związek miedzy AF i udarem niedokrwiennym mozgu jest dobrze poznany. Niezbednym wydaje sie poznanie zalezności miedzy AF i RAO. Czy obecnośc AF wiąze sie z ryzykiem wystąpienia RAO? Jaki wplyw na rokowanie u pacjenta z AF ma wystąpienie incydentu RAO? Czy pacjentow z RAO nalezy diagnozowac w kierunku AF? Jakie leczenie nalezy wlączyc u pacjenta z RAO i nowo rozpoznanym AF? Znajomośc odpowiedzi na powyzsze pytania wydaje sie niezbedna w codziennej praktyce klinicznej. Przedstawiono przegląd piśmiennictwa dotyczący związku miedzy RAO i AF.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is the most common heart rhythm disorder that constitutes the cause of ischemic stroke. Retinal artery occlusion (RAO), believed to be the equivalent of ischaemic stroke, is one of the causes of sudden vision loss that is related to an increased risk of cardiovascular events. The relationship between AF and ischaemic stroke is well known. Gaining knowledge about the relationship between AF and RAO seems essential. Is the presence of AF associated with the risk of RAO? What impact does RAO have on the prognosis of patients with AF? Should patients with RAO be examined for AF? What treatment should be introduced in RAO patients recently diagnosed with AF? Knowing the answers to these questions appears to be essential in daily clinical practice. A literature review on the relationship between RAO and AF is presented.