May 2004
Volume 45, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2004
Does Obesity Have An Effect On Retinal Vessel Diameter? the Blue Mountains Eye Study
B. Taylor; J.J. Wang; E. Rochtchina; T.Y. Wong; R. Klein; P. Mitchell; Blue Mountains Eye Study
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • B. Taylor
    Ophthalmology, Centre for vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • J.J. Wang
    Ophthalmology, Centre for vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • E. Rochtchina
    Ophthalmology, Centre for vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • T.Y. Wong
    Ophthalmology, Centre for vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • R. Klein
    Ophthalmology & Visual Science, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
  • P. Mitchell
    Ophthalmology, Centre for vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Blue Mountains Eye Study
    Ophthalmology, Centre for vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  B. Taylor, None; J.J. Wang, None; E. Rochtchina, None; T.Y. Wong, None; R. Klein, None; P. Mitchell, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  NHMRC 153948, NIH EY06594 and HL 59259
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2004, Vol.45, 5256. doi:
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      B. Taylor, J.J. Wang, E. Rochtchina, T.Y. Wong, R. Klein, P. Mitchell, Blue Mountains Eye Study; Does Obesity Have An Effect On Retinal Vessel Diameter? the Blue Mountains Eye Study . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004;45(13):5256.

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Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of large vessel atherosclerosis. Its effect on microvascular disease is less clear. We aimed to investigate the relation between body mass index (BMI) and retinal arteriolar and venular diameters in an older population. Methods: Retinal photographs were taken on 3,654 persons aged 49 years or older in the Blue Mountains Eye Study. The diameter of retinal arterioles and venules was measured from digitized right eye retinal images, and summarized. The ratio of their diameters, the arteriole–to–venule ratio (AVR), was also calculated. BMI was calculated as weight (kg)/ height (m)2. Results: Mean BMI was 26.1 (±4.6) in this population. After adjustment for age, sex, smoking, fasting glucose level and mean arterial blood pressure, BMI was not associated with arteriolar diameter (p=0.2), but was associated with larger venular diameter (beta coefficient 0.44, p<.0001) and smaller AVR (beta coefficient –0.00116, p<.0001). This association persisted after excluding persons with hypertension or diabetes. Conclusions: We conclude that higher BMI is associated with larger retinal venular diameter, independent of hypertension, diabetes and cigarette smoking. There is no influence of BMI on retinal arteriolar diameter. These data suggest that obesity could also have an effect on microvascular structure.

Keywords: clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment • imaging/image analysis: clinical • retina 
© 2004, 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 © 2024 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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