Investigative ophthalmology & visual scienceApr 22, 2025

Links Between Heart Health and New Age-Related Eye Diseases in UK Biobank Participants

Circadian Biology Weekly Brief ↗PubMed ↗DOI ↗OA ↗

Updated Apr 3, 2026

Abstract

During an average follow-up of 10.9 years, 7468 (2.8%) cases of (AMD) were documented.

Individuals with moderate (CVH) had a 14% reduced risk of developing AMD compared to those with low CVH.
Those with high CVH levels experienced a 23% reduction in AMD risk.
A linear dose-response relationship exists between the cumulative Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score and AMD incidence.
Achieving optimal CVH could potentially prevent 9.4% of AMD cases.
Ideal blood glucose and blood pressure levels are associated with reductions of 3.3% and 8.7% in AMD cases, respectively.

Simplified

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the correlation between (CVH), evaluated through the Life's Essential 8 (LE8) score, and the risk of new-onset (AMD).

METHODS: This longitudinal analysis included 271,274 participants who were free of both cardiovascular diseases and AMD at baseline. The LE8 score was classified into three categories: low (<50 points), moderate (50 to <80 points), and high (≥80 points), with higher scores indicating better CVH. Cox proportional hazards models were used to explore the relationships between the CVH and AMD incidence. Furthermore, the population attributable risk (PAR%) was calculated for CVH and each individual metric.

RESULTS: During an average follow-up duration of 10.9 years, a total of 7468 (2.8%) cases of AMD were documented. Individuals with moderate and high CVH levels had a 14% (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.86; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78-0.94) and 23% (HR = 0.77; 95% CI, 0.69-0.86) reduced risk of developing AMD, respectively. A linear dose-response relationship was identified between the cumulative LE8 score and the incidence of AMD. Attaining optimal CVH in all individuals could potentially avert 9.4% (95% CI, 3.7%-15.1%) of AMD cases. Among the CVH metrics, ideal blood glucose and blood pressure levels were related to a reduction of 3.3% and 8.7% in AMD cases, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: Enhanced CVH is significantly associated with a reduced risk of developing AMD. Promoting CVH through the LE8 guideline might potentially contribute to the prevention of AMD.

Key numbers

14%

Decrease in Risk with Moderate

Hazard ratio for moderate vs. low

23%

Decrease in Risk with High

Hazard ratio for high vs. low

9.4%

Potential Cases Prevented by Optimal

Population attributable risk percentage for achieving high

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Links Between Heart Health and New Age-Related Eye Diseases in UK Biobank Participants

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