May 2007
Volume 48, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2007
Influence of Diabetes, Glycemia and Retinopathy on Retinal Vascular Caliber: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity & Lifestyle Study (AusDiab)
G. Tikellis; J. E. Shaw; R. Simpson; P. Z. Zimmet; S. Rogers; J. Wang; P. Mitchell; H. R. Taylor; T. Y. Wong
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • G. Tikellis
    Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • J. E. Shaw
    International Diabetes Institute, Caulfield, Australia
  • R. Simpson
    Eastern Health Research Unit, Box Hill Hospital, Box Hill, Australia
  • P. Z. Zimmet
    Interanational Diabetes Institute, Caulfield, Australia
  • S. Rogers
    Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • J. Wang
    Ophthalmology, Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Australia
  • P. Mitchell
    Ophthalmology, Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Australia
  • H. R. Taylor
    Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • T. Y. Wong
    Ophthalmology, Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships G. Tikellis, None; J.E. Shaw, None; R. Simpson, None; P.Z. Zimmet, None; S. Rogers, None; J. Wang, None; P. Mitchell, None; H.R. Taylor, None; T.Y. Wong, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support This study was supported by the National Medical Research Council Grant No 350448 and a Charles Viertel Charitable Foundation Grant.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2007, Vol.48, 3084. doi:
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      G. Tikellis, J. E. Shaw, R. Simpson, P. Z. Zimmet, S. Rogers, J. Wang, P. Mitchell, H. R. Taylor, T. Y. Wong; Influence of Diabetes, Glycemia and Retinopathy on Retinal Vascular Caliber: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity & Lifestyle Study (AusDiab). Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2007;48(13):3084.

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Abstract

Purpose:: To examine the relationship of retinal vascular caliber to diabetes, glycemic status and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods:: The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle Study (AusDiab, 1999-2000) recruited adults aged 25+ years from 42 randomly selected areas nationwide. Diabetes was defined as fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥7.0 mmol/l or 2-hour plasma glucose (2HPG) level ≥11.1 mmol/l. Impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and normal glucose tolerance (NGT) was further defined from the FPG and 2HPG values. Non-mydriatic, digital retinal photographs were taken of 2,476 participants and graded for DR. Retinal vascular caliber was measured by computer-assisted methods.

Results:: Of the 2020 people with gradable retinal images, KDM was present in 16%, NDM in 17%, IGT in 42% and IFG in 6%. Retinal arteriolar caliber (RAC) was significantly larger in KDM (179µm) compared to NGT (175µm) (p=0.02) after adjusting for age, gender, systolic blood pressure, body mass index, alcohol, smoking, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides. Each standard deviation (SD) increase in RAC was associated with increased odds of having KDM compared to NGT (odds ratio, OR 1.24; 95%CI 1.04 - 1.47); and of having diabetes and mild-to-moderate non-proliferative DR compared to NGT with no DR (OR 1.59 95%CI 1.21-2.07). The association of larger RAC with KDM remained significant after further adjusting for venular caliber (p<0.05). In similar adjusted models, retinal venular caliber (RVC) was not significantly associated with glucose tolerance status, but was significantly associated with DR. Each SD increase in RVC was associated with an increased likelihood of having diabetes and mild-to-moderate non-proliferative DR (OR 1.77, 95% CI 1.34-2.32); this association remained significant after adjusting for RAC (p<0.05).

Conclusions:: Wider RAC was associated with known diabetes, and wider RVC was independently associated with DR.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • retina • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: outcomes/complications 
© 2007, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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