Media Release
For Immediate Release
22 June 2009
AMD patients at higher risk of heart disease: study
Researchers at the Centre for Eye Research Australia (CERA) have discovered a link between
age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and an increased risk of heart disease that could lead to
early diagnosis and more effective treatment.
The study, published in Ophthalmology, found that people with early AMD are almost 60 per cent
more likely to develop coronary heart disease than those without the disease.
Principal Investigator Professor Tien Wong said that while scientists have long thought AMD to be
associated with cardiovascular disease, this study is the first to establish a consistent link between
AMD and coronary heart disease.
“We don’t fully understand the causes of AMD however increasing evidence suggests the disease
shares similar genetic and environmental risk factors with cardiovascular disease,” Professor
Wong said.
“Smoking, a diet high in fat and hypertension are all risk factors of both AMD and heart disease
and the two share common genetic variants,” he said.
The findings suggest that common treatments for cardiovascular disease, such as cholesterol
lowering medication, may be useful for AMD prevention. However further research into this area is
required.
Researchers monitored 1786 people between the ages of 69 to 97 years who were free of
coronary heart disease over a seven year period. Of those who had early AMD, almost 26 per
cent developed heart disease, compared to only 18.9 per cent of those without AMD.
AMD has also been linked to a reduced life span due to its association with heart disease.
AMD is a leading cause of vision loss and blindness in Australia and one in seven people over the
age of 50 are affected by the condition.
CERA incorporates the Department of Ophthalmology at the University of Melbourne and is
located at the Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital.
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ends –
For more information or to arrange an interview with Professor Tien Wong please contact:
Lauren Metcalfe
BH: 03 9929 8424
MOB: 0409 255 980
laurenem@unimelb.edu.au
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