Emergency Department Presentation of Retinal Artery Occlusion

Purpose: To determine how frequently patients who present to an emergency department (ED) with a retinal artery occlusion (RAO) undergo brain imaging and cardiovascular testing and are hospitalized.

Design: Retrospective cross-sectional study.

Participants: Patients who presented to an ED with an RAO in the National Emergency Department Sample (NEDS), a nationally representative United States database.

Methods: The NEDS was queried to identify patients who presented to an ED with the primary diagnosis of RAO between 2006 and 2014. Patient and hospital characteristics were evaluated, and a multivariable regression was performed to determine predictors of hospitalization. Testing was categorized into 3 groups: (1) brain imaging performed using computed tomography or magnetic resonance; (2) carotid imaging performed using ultrasound, computed tomography, or magnetic resonance; and (3) cardiac testing performed using electrocardiogram or echocardiogram. The number of tests performed for each category was recorded.

Main outcome measures: Proportions of patients undergoing brain imaging, carotid imaging, or cardiac testing. Rate and predictors of hospitalization.

Results: Among 259 343 582 ED visits, 2802 had a primary diagnosis of RAO. Patients were mostly aged ≥65 years (59%) and male (54%). Hypertension (59%), dyslipidemia (36%), and diabetes (20%) were the most common preexisting cardiovascular diseases. Brain imaging, carotid imaging, and cardiac testing were performed in 20.3%, 7.1%, and 23.8% of the patients, respectively; at least 1 test from each of these 3 categories was performed in 4.1% of the patients. Half of the patients were hospitalized. Factors that increased the chances of hospitalization included the following (P < 0.05): age of <45 years; female sex; a history of smoking; presenting to a metropolitan hospital and having giant cell arteritis, carotid artery disease, atrial fibrillation, cardiac valve disease, obesity, dyslipidemia, hypertension, diabetes, and chronic ischemic heart disease.

Conclusions: Most patients who presented to an ED with an RAO did not receive emergency brain imaging, carotid imaging, or basic cardiac testing. A multidisciplinary approach is needed to raise awareness that RAOs should be treated as a precursor of stroke or a stroke equivalent.https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/34742898/