Abstract
Purpose :
To investigate the effects of physical activity and inactivity on the retinal vessel caliber of children by a validated deep-learning system.
Methods :
Hong Kong Children Eye Study (HKCES) is a population-based cross-sectional study of children aged 6 to 8 years. All participants received comprehensive ophthalmic examinations and retinal photography. Data on physical activity, physical inactivity, and potential confounders were obtained from a validated questionnaire. A validated deep-learning system (SIVA-DLS) was used to automatically estimate central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE), and arteriovenous ratio (AVR) from retinal photographs. The effects on retinal vessel caliber of physical activity, physical inactivity, and the ratio between physical activity and inactivity, were investigated.
Results :
11959 participants were included in the study. Increased ratio was associated with narrower CRVE (β = -2.079; 95% CI: -3.141, -1.017; P < 0.001), wider CRAE (β = 1.033; 95% CI: 0.288, 1.778; P = 0.007) and increased AVR (β = 0.006; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.010; P < 0.001). Subgroup analysis of boys showed increased ratio was associated with narrower CRVE (β = -2.563; 95% CI: -4.099, -1.027; P = 0.001), wider CRAE (β = 1.364; 95% CI: 0.288, 2.440; P = 0.013) and increased AVR (β = 0.008; 95% CI: 0.003, 0.013; P = 0.002). Subgroup analysis of girls showed the ratio was associated with narrower CRVE (β = -1.759; 95% CI: -3.237, -0.282; P = 0.020) and increased AVR (β = 0.005; 95% CI: 0.000, 0.010; P = 0.039) but not CRAE. Physical activity or inactivity alone did not result in significant associations with retinal vessel caliber.
Conclusions :
Increased in overall activity level was associated with narrower CRVE, wider CRAE and increased AVR, and the effects were more evident in boys. The ratio between physical activity and inactivity appeared better than physical activity or inactivity alone to reflect the effects on retinal vessel caliber.
This abstract was presented at the 2024 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Seattle, WA, May 5-9, 2024.