AI Flags Risk Factors for AMD Progression

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Researchers have harnessed artificial intelligence (AI) to create a reli­able prediction model for progression to atrophic and/or neovascular age-re­lated macular degeneration (AMD).¹ The AI algorithm identified nine risk factors from a larger set of phenotypic, genetic, and lifestyle predictors.

“The model could be used for patients showing some early signs of AMD, to identify those most at risk of progression to advanced AMD,” said Cécile Delcourt, PhD, at the Univer­sité de Bordeaux in France. It also has implications for making recommenda­tions to patients regarding their lifestyle and the frequency of follow-up visits. Moreover, it might be used for testing or adopting new therapies or interventions and for patient selection in clinical trials, she said.

BIOMARKER. Human neuronal cells show fibrillar staining for NfL (red). Cell nuclei of some non-neuronal cells are also evident (blue).This image was originally published in the ASRS Retina Image Bank. Pamela Rowlett, CRA. Exudative Macular Degeneration. Retina Image Bank. 2019; Image Number 29991. © The American Society of Retina Specialists.

Data from two popula­tion-based cohort studies. The prediction algorithm was trained using data from 3,838 participants from the Rotterdam Study 1. These patients did not have advanced AMD at baseline and were age 55 or older. During a mean follow-up of 10.8 years, 108 incident cases of advanced AMD were detected.

The model was validated using 362 participants from the ALIENOR study, who were age 73 or older. During a median follow-up of 6.5 years, 33 incident cases of AMD were diagnosed.

Machine-selected variables. The four strongest risk factors for progres­sion were genetic risk score, the score from AREDS (Age-Related Eye Disease Study), presence of intermediate dru­sen, and age.

These were followed in importance by smoking, pulse pressure, presence of retinal hyperpigmentation, education, and the Mediterranean diet score. Of note, pulse pressure and the Mediterra­nean diet have not appeared in earlier prediction models.

Three risk categories. The algorithm also estimated the cumulative incidence of advanced AMD, categorizing risk as low, intermediate, or high. In both the training and validation cohorts, inci­dence in the high-risk group increased steeply from baseline. The low- and intermediate-risk cohorts showed lower incidence rates across all time points.

Waiting for approval. The predic­tion model, which will be available to clinicians via www.macutest.net, is awaiting FDA approval in the United States and CE marking for Europe. Put­ting it into practice will require three steps: 1) The ophthalmologist will need to enter clinical exam findings, such as presence of drusen and retinal pigmen­tary abnormalities; 2) the patient must supply lifestyle information; and 3) a genetic sample should be taken, with results directly entered into the system. “The genetic test is performed only once,” Dr. Delcourt said, “but the oph­thalmological and lifestyle information can be filled in at each visit to monitor the risk evolution.”

Because genetic testing is not cur­rently available in routine ophthalmol­ogy practices, there is an alternative model that excludes the genetic risk score, with comparable results, she said.

—Miriam Karmel

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1 Ajana S et al. Ophthalmology. Published online Sept. 2, 2020.

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Relevant financial disclosures—Dr. Delcourt: None.

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