THE PATTERNS OF FUNDUS ABNORMALITIES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Purpose: The patterns of findings in a fundus in cardiovascular (СVD) and chronic non-communicable diseases have been investigated in European and North American populations with heterogeneous results. The subject has not been practically studied in Russian population. We performed systematic literature search for 15 years (2001-2015) to summarize the data from published studies on the relationship between fundus abnormalities and CVD and its’ complications. Methods. We used the Internet resources: PubMed (http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/), Scopus (http://www.scopus.com), e-library (http://elibrary.ru/defaultx.asp) and major domestic cardiological, therapeutic and ophthalmologic journals. Results. The analysis of the data accumulated in the literature showed the associations between specific patterns of fundus abnormalities and CVD, and also a prognostic impact of these changes on the development of complications of CVD. Namely are shown: the association between a narrowing of arteries and dilation of veins and the risk of ischemic heart disease and fatal CVD; the association between an increase of vein diameter and the risk of a cerebral stroke; the relationship between fundus changes and aging and risk factors of CVD; the contribution of ophthalmoscopic identification of fundus abnormalities to the stratification of cardiovascular risk.