Atrial fibrillation shares pathomechanism to age-related macular degeneration, finds study
A recent study published in the journal of Eye journal revealed a significant reciprocal link between atrial fibrillation (AF) and age-related macular degeneration (AMD) in the elderly. The findings suggest that the 2 debilitating conditions may share overlapping mechanisms such as chronic inflammation and oxidative stress, providing fresh insight into their pathogenesis and potential implications for clinical care.
The research from Taiwan’s National Health Insurance Research Database, analyzed medical claims data from 2003 to 2018. Investigators constructed 2 large cohorts, where 34,236 patients newly diagnosed with AF and another where 31,766 patients with newly diagnosed AMD. Each group was compared against carefully matched controls using advanced statistical weighting techniques to ensure fairness in comparison.
The study determined whether patients with AF were at higher risk of developing AMD, and vice versa. Also, patients with AF had a 10% higher risk of subsequently developing AMD when compared with controls (HR 1.10; 95% CI 1.04–1.17). The patients with AMD showed an 8% increased risk of developing AF (HR 1.08; 95% CI 1.02–1.15).
The reciprocal risk was strongest in cases of dry AMD, which is the more common but less aggressive form when compared to wet AMD. This detail strengthens the argument that underlying systemic processes, rather than localized ocular changes alone, may play a pivotal role in linking the 2 diseases.
Older patients and both male and female subgroups consistently showed increased risks, with risk trends climbing in tandem with age. This suggests that advancing age magnifies the overlap in vulnerability to both AF and AMD, which aligned with the broader understanding of age as a unifying risk factor.
The study emphasized that AF and AMD are not isolated conditions but may share common pathological roots. By identifying this reciprocal relationship, clinicians may be encouraged to adopt more integrated screening strategies. Overall, the findings of this study caution that while the association is clear, the precise biological mechanisms remain to be fully explained.
Reference:
Tsai, H.-R., Chang, W.-C., & Lee, Y.-C. (2025). Association between atrial fibrillation and age-related macular degeneration: A nationwide cohort study. Eye, 1–8. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41433-025-03956-2
