May 2004
Volume 45, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2004
Factors influencing temporal changes in retinal vessel diameter: the Blue Mountains Eye Study
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • P. Mitchell
    Clinical Ophthalmology,
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • J.J. Wang
    Clinical Ophthalmology,
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • E. Rochtchina
    Clinical Ophthalmology,
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • T.Y. Wong
    Ophthalmology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • W.T. Smith
    Centre for Clinical Epidemiology & Biostatistics, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, Australia
  • S.R. Leeder
    Public Health,
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • R. Klein
    Ophthalmology & Visual Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
  • Blue Mountains Eye Study
    University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  P. Mitchell, None; J.J. Wang, None; E. Rochtchina, None; T.Y. Wong, None; W.T. Smith, None; S.R. Leeder, None; R. Klein, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NHMRC153948
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2004, Vol.45, 2247. doi:
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      P. Mitchell, J.J. Wang, E. Rochtchina, T.Y. Wong, W.T. Smith, S.R. Leeder, R. Klein, Blue Mountains Eye Study; Factors influencing temporal changes in retinal vessel diameter: the Blue Mountains Eye Study . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004;45(13):2247.

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      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To determine the magnitude and determinants of change in retinal vessel diameter over a 5–year period in a defined older population. Methods: The Blue Mountains Eye Study examined 3654 (82.4%) Australian residents aged 49+ years during 1992–4, of whom 2335 (75.1% of survivors) were re–examined after 5 years. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured from digitized images taken at both exams and summarized as average retinal arteriolar and venular diameters and arteriolar to venular ratio (AVR). Hypertension was defined by use of anti–hypertensive medications, systolic BP (SBP) ≥160mmHg or diastolic BP (DBP) ≥95mmHg at examination. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) was calculated as 0.33 (SBP) + 0.67 (DBP). We defined a significant 5–year change in vessel diameter as a difference of at least one standard deviation (SD) from the original distribution of retinal vessel diameters or AVR. Results: There was no significant overall change in mean retinal arteriolar diameter over this period or trend by decade of increasing age (p=0.57), after adjusting for sex, smoking, body–mass index and MABP. However, a significant trend for venular narrowing with increasing age decade was evident (p=0.008). This trend was borderline for AVR (p=0.055). Retinal arteriolar narrowing by at least one SD over 5 years occurred in 8.4% of subjects, retinal venular narrowing in 7.0% and reduced AVR in 10.2%. Corresponding rates for retinal vessel widening were 8.8%, 3.8% and 13.8%, respectively. Initial retinal vessel caliber was the strongest predictor of 5–year change. Retinal arterioles, venules and AVR in the lowest (narrowest) quintile changed least, those in the widest quintile changed most. Current smoking and diabetes were both significant predictors of change in retinal venular diameter. The strongest relation of smoking and venular narrowing was found in normotensive subjects (OR 2.5, CI 1.4–4.9). After adjusting for baseline retinal vessel diameter, neither baseline hypertension or MABP level was associated with significant 5–year change. Conclusions: This study provides population–based data on 5–year changes in retinal vessel caliber. Although the strongest predictor of vessel diameter in our study, BP parameters did not exert measurable influences on change over this period, suggesting long–term structural effects.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: natural history • retina • blood supply 
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