Risk of incident atrial fibrillation in patients presenting with retinal artery or vein occlusion: a nationwide cohort study

Profile and outcomes of retinal artery occlusion: The underrealized need to expedite presentation

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical profile of retinal artery occlusion (RAO) and impact of presentation on visual outcomes.

DESIGN

A retrospective analysis of case files of 3070 patients with RAO was performed using electronic medical records.

METHODS

Demographic data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. The differential distribution of risk factors of RAO with age was studied. Time to presentation and treatment effects were assessed using multivariate regression. Interaction plots were drawn to assess the impact of risk factors on outcomes.

RESULTS

Central RAO was the most common type (n = 2443, 77.11%), followed by branch RAO (n = 500, 15.78%), while combined retinal vascular occlusion and cilio-RAO were rare. Most of the patients (71.40%) were male and had unilateral (96.81%) affliction. Almost half presented within the fifth (24.85%) and sixth (21.4%) decades of life. Hyperhomocysteinemia had a higher association (1.95, P = 0.0019) with younger patients (<40 years), while hypertension (3.64, P < 0.001), diabetes mellitus (DM; 4.18, P < 0.001), and coronary artery disease (CAD) (4.26, P = 0.002) were significantly commoner in older patients. CAD (5.1%) and cerebrovascular disease (0.6%) were detected after ocular presentation in some patients. Embolus, though detected rarely (1%), was associated (60%) with serious systemic disorders. Early presentation (<6 h) was associated with better visual outcomes (mean log of minimum angle of resolution 1.8 ± 1.3 vs. 2.1 ± 1.3, P = 0.032). Neovascular glaucoma (2.14% overall) was twice more common in DM (P < 0.0004) and led to further vision loss. Visual improvement occurred in 10% of patients over follow-up.

CONCLUSION

RAO occurs slightly earlier compared to coronary and cerebrovascular disorders and can precede their detection. Associated risk factors vary with the age of presentation. Presentation within 6 h needs facilitation for better outcomes and management.

Risk of stroke development following retinal vein occlusion: A systematic review and meta-analysis

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and cerebrovascular disease share common risk factors and may be independently associated; however, the strength and nature of this association remain unclear. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis, informed by studies from PubMed, Scopus, EMBASE, Web of Science, and Google Scholar until January 6, 2024, aimed to clarify this relationship. Eligible studies included cohorts observing stroke incidence in RVO patients for over a year. Pooled effect estimates were calculated using random-effects models, with subgroup analyses evaluating associations between RVO types (central and branch) and stroke subtypes (ischemic and hemorrhagic). Ten cohort studies with a total of 428,650 participants (86,299 RVO patients) were included. Compared to controls, RVO patients exhibited a significantly increased risk of stroke (pooled risk ratio [RR]=1.38, 95 % confidence interval (95 %CI)=1.34-1.41). Subgroup analyses indicated elevated risk for both ischemic (RR=1.37, 95 %CI=1.32-1.42) and hemorrhagic (RR=1.55, 95 %CI=1.08-2.22) strokes in RVO patients. Additionally, both central (RR=1.50, 95 %CI=1.27-1.78) and branch (RR=1.41, 95 %CI=1.32-1.50) RVO were associated with stroke risk. Sensitivity analyses confirmed consistent results across various criteria, and funnel plots indicated no publication bias. RVO significantly increases the risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, regardless of RVO type, suggesting a strong independent association between these conditions.

Retina-Brain Homology: The Correlation Between Ophthalmic or Retinal Artery Occlusion and Ischemic Stroke

The retina's similar structure and function to the brain make it a unique visual "window" for studying cerebral disorders. Ophthalmic artery occlusion (OAO) or retinal artery occlusion (RAO) is a severe ophthalmic emergency that significantly affects visual acuity. Studies have demonstrated that patients with OAO or RAO face a notably higher risk of future acute ischemic stroke (AIS). However, ophthalmologists often overlook multidisciplinary approach involving the neurologist, to evaluate the risk of AIS and devise clinical treatment strategies for patients with OAO or RAO. Unlike the successful use of thrombolysis in AIS, the application of thrombolysis for OAO or RAO remains limited and controversial due to insufficient reliable evidence. In this review, we aim to summarize the anatomical and functional connections between the retina and the brain, and the clinical connection between OAO or RAO and AIS, compare and review recent advances in the effectiveness and safety of intravenous and intra-arterial thrombolysis therapy in patients with OAO or RAO, and discuss future research directions for OAO or RAO. Our goal is to advance the development of multidisciplinary diagnosis and treatment strategies for the disease, as well as to establish expedited pathways or thrombolysis guidelines for vascular intervention.

Cardiovascular morbidity and all-cause mortality in patients with retinal vein occlusion: a Danish nationwide cohort study

BACKGROUND/AIMS

Associations between retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and subsequent cardiovascular disease (CVD) or mortality have not been evaluated in a recent cohort, after novel therapeutic options have increased referrals for treatment of the condition. We aimed to evaluate overall and subtype-stratified risk of CVD and all-cause mortality following RVO and assess any alterations after the introduction of angiostatic therapy in Denmark in 2011.

METHODS

This nationwide, registry-based cohort study from 1998 to 2018 evaluated 4 194 781 individuals. Hazard ratios (HRs) were reported for RVO as an overall measure and subclassified as branch and central RVO.

RESULTS

Patients with RVO (n=15 665) were median 71.8 years old at the time of exposure and 50.7% were women. RVO associated with incident CVD (adjusted HR 1.13, 95% CI 1.09 to 1.17) but not mortality (adjusted HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.97 to 1.03). Almost similar risks of CVD were found for patients with branch and central RVO (adjusted HRs 1.14, 95% CI 1.03 to 1.25, and 1.12, 95% CI 1.00 to 1.25, respectively), but only patients with central RVO exhibited increased mortality (adjusted HR 1.12, 95% CI 1.04 to 1.21). Risk of CVD, especially non-ischaemic, was higher for patients diagnosed after 2011 (adjusted HRs 1.24, 95% CI 1.15 to 1.33 vs 1.06, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12).

CONCLUSION

In a cohort of the Danish population aged 40 years or more, patients with RVO had a 13% increased risk of incident CVD compared with unexposed individuals. Risk of CVD was increased after 2011, when intravitreal angiostatic treatment was introduced and referral practices altered.

Incidence of Retinal Artery Occlusion and Related Mortality in Korea, 2005 to 2018

IMPORTANCE

It remains unclear whether comorbidities in patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO), a rare retinal vascular disorder, differ by subtype and whether mortality is higher.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the nationwide incidence of clinically diagnosed, nonarteritic RAO, causes of death, and mortality rate in patients with RAO compared with that in the general population in Korea.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This retrospective, population-based cohort study examined National Health Insurance Service claims data from 2002 to 2018. The population of South Korea was 49 705 663, according to the 2015 census. Data were analyzed from February 9, 2021, to July 30, 2022.

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The nationwide incidence of any RAO, including central RAO (CRAO; International Statistical Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, Tenth Revision [ICD-10] code, H34.1) and noncentral RAO (other RAO; ICD-10 code, H34.2) was estimated using National Health Insurance Service claims data from 2002 to 2018, with 2002 to 2004 as the washout period. Furthermore, the causes of death were evaluated and the standardized mortality ratio was estimated. The primary outcomes were the incidence of RAO per 100 000 person-years and the standardized mortality ratio (SMR).

RESULTS

A total of 51 326 patients with RAO were identified (28 857 [56.2%] men; mean [SD] age at index date: 63.6 [14.1] years). The nationwide incidence of any RAO was 7.38 (95% CI, 7.32-7.44) per 100 000 person-years. The incidence rate of noncentral RAO was 5.12 (95% CI, 5.07-5.18), more than twice that of CRAO (2.25 [95% CI, 2.22-2.29]). Mortality was higher in patients with any RAO than in the general population (SMR, 7.33 [95% CI, 7.15-7.50]). The SMR for CRAO (9.95 [95% CI, 9.61-10.29]) and for noncentral RAO (5.97 [95% CI, 5.78-6.16]) showed a tendency toward a gradual decrease with increasing age. The top 3 causes of death in patients with RAO were diseases of the circulatory system (28.8%), neoplasms (25.1%), and diseases of the respiratory system (10.2%).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

This cohort study found that the incidence rate of noncentral RAO was higher than that of CRAO, whereas SMR was higher for CRAO than noncentral RAO. Patients with RAO show higher mortality than the general population, with circulatory system disease as the leading cause of death. These findings suggest that it is necessary to investigate the risk of cardiovascular or cerebrovascular disease in patients newly diagnosed with RAO.

Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation and retinal vein occlusion: The Valdecilla Cohort

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) and nonvalvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF) are associated with vascular risk factors (VRF) and aging. The aim of this study is to analyze differences in the prevalence of VRF, vascular events, glaucoma, and anticoagulant treatment in patients with NVAF and RVO compared to a control group of the general population from the same geographic area.

METHODS

This is a prospective, single-center, case-control study. All patients diagnosed with RVO from December 2008 to March 2020 as well as a control group were included. Clinical, laboratory, electrocardiographic, and carotid ultrasound variables were analyzed.

RESULTS

A total of 386 patients with RVO and 343 controls were studied. Patients with RVO and NVAF were older and more of them had hypertension, a history of vascular events, and carotid atheromatosis than subjects with RVO without NVAF. In patients with NVAF who were on anticoagulants, those who had RVO differed from the controls with NVAF in that they had a higher prevalence of glaucoma (32 vs. 5.3%; p<0.034), with no significant differences regarding age, VRF, vascular events, or type of anticoagulant therapy (acenocumarol or direct-acting oral anticoagulants).

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with RVO and NVAF were older and had a higher prevalence of hypertension and carotid atheromatosis than subjects with RVO without NVAF. Patients with NVAF and RVO had higher prevalence of glaucoma than subjects with NVAF without RVO. In patients with NVAF, it is recommended to optimized VRF treatment and glaucoma control to prevent the development of RVO.

Case report: Bilateral posterior ischemic optic neuropathy in a patient with atrial fibrillation and multifocal embolic stroke

An 80-year-old female with a history of diabetes mellitus (DM) and hypertension presented with sudden onset of sequential bilateral visual loss. The best visual acuity was light perception in the right eye and finger counting in the left eye, however, bilateral fundus did not reveal optic disc edema. Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed acute embolic stroke and diffusion restriction in the posterior portion of both optic nerves. The 24-h Holter monitor showed persistent atrial fibrillation (AF) with rapid ventricular response. The presence of painless and severe visual loss at onset unaccompanied by optic disc edema in the patient with newly detected uncontrolled AF and multiple embolic infarctions favored a diagnosis of non-arteritic posterior ischemic optic neuropathy (PION). The current case contributes to better understanding of PION pathophysiology and associated risk factors, indicating a possible relationship between non-arteritic PION and uncontrolled AF and embolic cerebral infarction.

[Cardiovascular risk factors, haemostasis and antithrombotic treatment in retinal vessel occlusion]

Venous and arterial retinal vascular occlusions are age-related disorders, generally associated with classical cardiovascular risk factors, rather than an isolated ocular disease. As affected patients often also have an increased general risk for other vascular diseases, such as ischemic stroke, an interdisciplinary clarification of cardiovascular risk factors and systemic comorbidities is essential for all patients. Extended hemostaseological investigations may be recommended in those patients who do not match the typical risk profile. Patients at a young age by the time of manifestation, without conventional risk factors as well as patients with an increased risk of developing antiphospholipid syndrome may require a selective clinical investigation including testing for thrombophilic risk factors. Recent studies have clearly demonstrated an association between coagulation and lipid metabolism disorders and the development of both retinal vein and artery occlusions in specific subgroups of patients. Therapeutic approaches to treat retinal vascular occlusions or reduce the long-term risk of recurrences with anticoagulant or antiplatelet drugs have not gained widespread acceptance. However, intravenous thrombolysis may be a valuable treatment option for central retinal artery occlusions within a short time to treatment therapeutic window. For defined disorders of the coagulation system, the administration of antithrombotic drugs to reduce the general vascular risk can be a reasonable approach. This article provides an overview of cardiovascular risk factors, the general vascular risk and the current state of knowledge on ophthalmologically relevant disorders of coagulation and lipid metabolism in patients with venous and arterial retinal vascular occlusions.

Retinal Vascular Occlusion after COVID-19 Vaccination: More Coincidence than Causal Relationship? Data from a Retrospective Multicentre Study

Background: To investigate whether vaccination against SARS-CoV-2 is associated with the onset of retinal vascular occlusive disease (RVOD). Methods: In this multicentre study, data from patients with central and branch retinal vein occlusion (CRVO and BRVO), central and branch retinal artery occlusion (CRAO and BRAO), and anterior ischaemic optic neuropathy (AION) were retrospectively collected during a 2-month index period (1 June–31 July 2021) according to a defined protocol. The relation to any previous vaccination was documented for the consecutive case series. Numbers of RVOD and COVID-19 vaccination were investigated in a case-by-case analysis. A case–control study using age- and sex-matched controls from the general population (study participants from the Gutenberg Health Study) and an adjusted conditional logistic regression analysis was conducted. Results: Four hundred and twenty-one subjects presenting during the index period (61 days) were enrolled: one hundred and twenty-one patients with CRVO, seventy-five with BRVO, fifty-six with CRAO, sixty-five with BRAO, and one hundred and four with AION. Three hundred and thirty-two (78.9%) patients had been vaccinated before the onset of RVOD. The vaccines given were BNT162b2/BioNTech/Pfizer (n = 221), followed by ChadOx1/AstraZeneca (n = 57), mRNA-1273/Moderna (n = 21), and Ad26.COV2.S/Johnson & Johnson (n = 11; unknown n = 22). Our case–control analysis integrating population-based data from the GHS yielded no evidence of an increased risk after COVID-19 vaccination (OR = 0.93; 95% CI: 0.60–1.45, p = 0.75) in connection with a vaccination within a 4-week window. Conclusions: To date, there has been no evidence of any association between SARS-CoV-2 vaccination and a higher RVOD risk.

Associations of new-onset atrial fibrillation and severe visual impairment in type 2 diabetes: A multicenter nationwide study

BACKGROUND

Many studies have demonstrated an association between type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and atrial fibrillation (AF). However, the potential independent contributions of T2DM and AF to the prevalence of visual impairment have not been evaluated.

AIM

To determine whether such an association between T2DM and incident AF with visual impairment exists, and if so, the prevalence and magnitude of this association.

METHODS

We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional study based on the DM/HT study of the Medical Research Network of the Consortium of Thai Medical Schools. This study had evaluated adult T2DM patients from 831 public hospitals in Thailand in the year 2013. T2DM patients were categorized into two groups: patients without and with incident AF. T2DM patients without AF were selected as the reference group. The association between incident AF and visual impairment among T2DM patients was assessed using multivariate logistic regression.

RESULTS

A total of 27281 T2DM patients with available eye examination data were included in this analysis. The mean age was 60.7 ± 10.5 years, and 31.2% were male. The incident AF was 0.2%. The prevalence of severe visual impairment in all T2DM patients, T2DM patients without AF, and T2DM patients with incident AF were 1.4%, 1.4%, and 6.3%, respectively. T2DM patients with incident AF were associated with an increased OR of 3.89 (95%CI: 1.17-13.38) for severe visual impairment compared with T2DM patients without AF.

CONCLUSION

T2DM patients with incident AF were independently associated with increased severe visual impairment. Therefore, early eye screening should be provided for these high-risk individuals.

Analysis on application effects of RAID quality improvement model in closed-loop management of central retinal artery occlusion nursing

OBJECTIVE

This study aimed to analyze the clinical value of applying RAID quality improvement model in closed-loop management of central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) nursing.

METHODS

Twelve ophthalmic nurses were trained. Soon afterwards, their related knowledge, operation and scene simulation test scores before and after training were examined and compared. Before and after training, 20 CRAO patients who admitted to the second ward of ophthalmology (Ophthalmology Section 2) of our hospital were included into control group and research group. The former applied routine management, while the latter employed RAID quality improvement model.

RESULTS

Before intervention, the ESCA scores and the time window of first-aid of the two groups had no significant difference (all P>0.05). While after intervention, the scores of the research group were dramatically improved; the self-care skills, health knowledge, self-responsibility and self-awareness were obviously higher than those of the control group (all P<0.05); the time window of first-aid in the research group was remarkably shorter than that before intervention, dramatically higher than that in the control group (32.34±8.14 vs. 49.46±8.13; P<0.05). After nursing, the overall satisfaction of patients in the research group (95.00%) was higher than that in the control group (70.00%; P<0.05). Meanwhile, compared with those before training, the examination scores of related knowledge and skills of ophthalmic nurses after training were obviously improved (all P<0.05). The incidence of complications in the research group was 5.00%, while that in the control group was 30.00%. The indexes in the research group were lower than those in the control group, with statistically remarkable differences (P<0.05).

CONCLUSION

RAID quality improvement model is effective in closed-loop management of CRAO nursing, which can effectively improve the quality of nursing for specific diseases and control related indicators. Hence, it's worthy to be promoted.

[Nonaretritic central retinal artery occlusion as marker for the generalized vascular risk]

BACKGROUND

Retinal artery occlusion (RAO) represents a limiting visual perception for affected patients. In all efforts to improve function it must not be forgotten that in the vast majority of cases the cause is one or more severe vascular or cardiac diseases, which can cause RAO just as ischemic stroke and can also be life-threatening.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this article is to present the available literature and to explain the importance of an intensive neurological internal medical clarification in RAO patients.

CONCLUSION

Although cardiovascular diseases are already known in most patients at the onset of an RAO, further risk factors are detected in almost 80% of cases. Therefore, and because of the high risk for recurrent thromboembolism, immediate and standardized neurological internal medical clarification of the cause is urgently recommended after an acute RAO in the context of an inpatient stay.

Relationship between Retinal Vascular Occlusions and Cognitive Dementia in a Large Cross-Sectional Cohort

PURPOSE

To examine the association between cognitive dementia and retinal vascular occlusions.

DESIGN

A retrospective, cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Single-institution study population: we reviewed the electronic medical records of 37,208 individuals older than 65 years of age who were evaluated by an ophthalmologist or an optometrist and who also had a medical visit to our institution over a 6-year period. Individuals with and without retinal vascular occlusions were identified by International Classification of Diseases, version 10 (ICD-10) diagnostic codes.

MAIN OUTCOME

we analyzed the association between dementia and retinal vascular occlusions after adjusting for covariates which included age, sex, stroke, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension using multiple logistic regression analyses.

RESULTS

Compared to subjects without retinal vascular occlusions, those with retinal vascular occlusions had a higher prevalence of dementia (6.7% vs. 9.3%, respectively; P < .001). After adjusting for either age or stroke, there were no significant associations between retinal vascular occlusions and dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

Individuals with retinal vascular occlusions have a higher prevalence of dementia. However, this association is secondary to shared underlying risk factors in this population, such as older age and stroke.

Retinal vascular occlusions

Acute retinal vascular occlusions are common causes of visual impairment. Although both retinal artery occlusions and retinal vein occlusions are associated with increased age and cardiovascular risk factors, their pathophysiology, systemic implications, and management differ substantially. Acute management of retinal artery occlusions involves a multidisciplinary approach including neurologists with stroke expertise, whereas treatment of retinal vein occlusions is provided by ophthalmologists. Optimisation of systemic risk factors by patients' primary care providers is an important component of the management of these two disorders.

Stroke-Related Visual Impairment; is There an Association with Atrial Fibrillation?

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Stroke-related visual impairment and atrial fibrillation are both common following stroke. This study explores whether presence of visual impairment following stroke is associated with presence of atrial fibrillation (AF).

SUBJECTS/METHODS

The Impact of Visual Impairment after Stroke (IVIS) study is a multi-centre, acute stroke unit, prospective epidemiology study. Standardised visual assessments included visual acuity, reading, visual fields, eye movements and visual perception. AF and blood pressure (BP) were measured on admission. Further data capture included stroke type, age, gender, stroke severity. Analysis included descriptive statistics, independent samples analysis and multivariate analysis for comparison of AF and visual impairment against covariates.

RESULTS

1500 stroke admissions were recruited of which 1204 stroke survivors had visual assessment. New onset stroke-related visual impairment (n = 703) was significantly associated with older age and stoke severity. AF and BP data were available for 889 stroke survivors. AF was present on admission for 258 stroke survivors and significantly associated with older age, stroke severity and discharge destination. A significant association was found for presence of AF and presence of visual impairment. However, stroke severity was a contributing factor for this association. High systolic BP (>140 mmHg) was present in 62% and high diastolic BP (>90 mmHg) in 29%, but not associated with presence of visual impairment.

CONCLUSIONS

AF and visual impairment, independently, occur commonly in stroke. Although our results show an association between AF and visual impairment, this appears to be independently influenced by stroke severity. AF was not associated with type of visual impairment or extent of visual recovery. It remains unknown if AF causes more severe visual impairment.

Atrial fibrillation post central retinal artery occlusion: Role of implantable loop recorders

OBJECTIVE

This study evaluated the risk of subclinical atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with central retinal artery occlusion (CRAO) compared to those with cryptogenic stroke using implantable loop recorders (ILR).

METHODS

We conducted a retrospective analysis of 273 consecutive patients who had ILRs inserted at our institution for either cryptogenic stroke (n = 227) or CRAO (n = 46). Our primary endpoint was a time to event analysis for the new diagnosis of AF by ILR. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazard models were used to determine the predictors of time-to-AF.

RESULTS

A total of 64 patients were found to have newly diagnosed AF by remote monitoring of the ILR. AF was detected in 57 of 227 (25%) cryptogenic stroke patients by the end of a maximum 5.1 years follow-up and in seven of 46 (15%) CRAO patients by the end of a maximum 3.6 years follow-up (P = .215, log-rank test). The Kaplan-Meier estimates for freedom from AF was 59.4% for CRAO and 66.6% for cryptogenic stroke (P = NS, log-rank test). Baseline variables predicting AF included older patients, higher CHADS₂ VASC score, longer PR interval on initial EKG evaluation, and mitral annular calcification on transthoracic echocardiogram.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients with CRAO are at risk for subclinical AF, similar to those with cryptogenic stroke. Long-term monitoring to detect AF may lead to changes in pharmacotherapy to reduce the risk for subsequent stroke.

Diabetes mellitus as a risk factor for retinal vein occlusion: A meta-analysis

Retinal vein occlusion (RVO) is the second most common etiology for vision loss. There is contrasting evidence on the association between diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of RVO. We performed a meta-analysis of published articles before October 31, 2019, to estimate a pooled odds ratio for the association between DM and RVO, including central and branch RVO by a fixed or random effects model. We identified 37 publications from 38 studies (1 publication was from 2 studies), published between 1985 and 2019. In total, 148,654 cases and 23,768,820 controls were included in this meta-analysis. The results of pooled analysis for all 37 publications (or 38 studies) showed a significant association between DM and the risk of RVO (OR = 1.68, 95% CI: 1.43-1.99). Subgroup analysis indicated that DM was significantly associated with CRVO (OR = 1.98, 95% CI: 1.29-3.03, I = 67.9%), but not significantly associated with BRVO (OR = 1.22, 95% CI: 0.95-1.56, I = 64.1%). In conclusion, the result of present meta-analysis suggested that DM is a risk factor for RVO. More well-designed studies on the relationship between RVO and DM should be undertaken in the future.

Characteristics and Outcomes of Retinal Artery Occlusion: Nationally Representative Data

Background and Purpose- There are few large studies examining comorbidities, outcomes, and acute interventions for patients with retinal artery occlusion (RAO). RAO shares pathophysiology with acute ischemic stroke (AIS); direct comparison may inform emergent treatment, evaluation, and secondary prevention. Methods- The National Readmissions Database contains data on ≈50% of US hospitalizations from 2013 to 2015. We used International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, codes to identify and compare index RAO and AIS admissions, comorbidities, and interventions and Clinical Comorbidity Software codes to identify readmissions causes, using survey-weighted methods when possible. Cumulative risk of all-cause readmission after RAO ≤1 year was estimated by Kaplan-Meier analysis. Results- Among 4871 RAO and 1 239 963 AIS admissions, patients with RAO were less likely (P<0.0001) than patients with AIS to have diabetes mellitus (RAO, 24.3% versus AIS, 36.8%), congestive heart failure (9.1% versus 14.8%), atrial fibrillation (15.5% versus 25.2%), or hypertension (62.2% versus 67.6%) but more likely to have valvular disease (13.3% versus 10.5%) and tobacco usage (38.6% versus 32.9%). In RAO admissions, thrombolysis was administered in 2.9% (5.8% in central RAO subgroup, versus 8.0% of AIS), therapeutic anterior chamber paracentesis in 1.0%, thrombectomy in none; 1.4% received carotid endarterectomy during index admission, 1.6% within 30 days. Nearly 1 in 10 patients with RAO were readmitted within 30 days and were more than twice as likely as patients with AIS to be readmitted for dysrhythmia or endocarditis. Readmission for stroke after RAO was the highest within the first 150 days after index admission, and risk was higher in central RAO than in branch RAO. Conclusions- Patients with RAO had high prevalence of many stroke risk factors, particularly valvular disease and smoking, which can be addressed to minimize subsequent risk. Despite less baseline atrial fibrillation, RAO patients were more likely to be readmitted for atrial fibrillation/dysrhythmias. A variety of interventions was administered. AIS risk is the highest shortly after RAO, emphasizing the importance of urgent, thorough neurovascular evaluation.