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Optical coherence tomography angiography analysis methods: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Courtie, Ella Kirkpatrick, James Robert Moore Taylor, Matthew Faes, Livia Liu, Xiaoxuan Logan, Ann Denniston, Alastair K Blanch, Richard J
Courtie, Ella
Kirkpatrick, James Robert Moore
Taylor, Matthew
Faes, Livia
Liu, Xiaoxuan
Logan, Ann
Denniston, Alastair K
Blanch, Richard J
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2024-04-26
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Abstract
Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is widely used for non-invasive retinal vascular imaging, but the OCTA methods used to assess retinal perfusion vary. We evaluated the different methods used to assess retinal perfusion between OCTA studies. MEDLINE and Embase were searched from 2014 to August 2021. We included prospective studies including ≥ 50 participants using OCTA to assess retinal perfusion in either global retinal or systemic disorders. Risk of bias was assessed using the National Institute of Health quality assessment tool for observational cohort and cross-sectional studies. Heterogeneity of data was assessed by Q statistics, Chi-square test, and I<sup>2</sup> index. Of the 5974 studies identified, 191 studies were included in this evaluation. The selected studies employed seven OCTA devices, six macula volume dimensions, four macula subregions, nine perfusion analyses, and five vessel layer definitions, totalling 197 distinct methods of assessing macula perfusion and over 7000 possible combinations. Meta-analysis was performed on 88 studies reporting vessel density and foveal avascular zone area, showing lower retinal perfusion in patients with diabetes mellitus than in healthy controls, but with high heterogeneity. Heterogeneity was lowest and reported vascular effects strongest in superficial capillary plexus assessments. Systematic review of OCTA studies revealed massive heterogeneity in the methods employed to assess retinal perfusion, supporting calls for standardisation of methodology.
Citation
Courtie, E., Kirkpatrick, J.R.M., Taylor, M. et al. Optical coherence tomography angiography analysis methods: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sci Rep 14, 9643 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54306-3
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38670997 (pubmed)
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Journal article
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en
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© 2024 The Authors. Published by Nature Publishing Group. This is an open access article available under a Creative Commons licence.
The published version can be accessed at the following link on the publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-024-54306-3
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2045-2322
EISSN
2045-2322
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This study was funded by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Surgical Reconstruction and Microbiology Research Centre (SRMRC).
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Licence for published version: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International