Posters

Factors associated with retinal vessel diameters in an elderly population: the Thessaloniki Eye Study (TES)

Poster Details

First Author: N.Dervenis GREECE

Co Author(s):    E. Anastasopoulos   F. Yu   P. Founti   T. Pappas   A. Salonikiou   F. Topouzis     

Abstract Details

Purpose:

To identify factors associated with retinal vessel diameters in the population-based setting of TES.

Setting:

Laboratory of Research and Clinical Applications in Ophthalmology, A’ Department of Ophthalmology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece

Methods:

Cross-sectional population based study (age≥ 60 years). Subjects with glaucoma, late age-related macular degeneration and any stage of diabetic retinopathy were excluded from the analyses. Retinal vessel diameters were measured using the EyeVAN software (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and measurements were summarized to central retinal artery equivalent (CRAE), central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE) and arteriole to venule ratio (AVR). Multivariate regression analyses were performed to assess the association of retinal vessel diameters with demographic factors and lifestyle, systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), medical and ophthalmic history and ophthalmic variables.

Results:

1614 subjects were included in the analysis. The normal blood pressure group (SBP<140mmHg and DBP<90mmHg) showed higher CRAE (slope estimate-se=3.31) and AVR (se=0.001) -p<0,05- compared to the group with SBP≥140mmHg and/or DBP≥90mmHg. DBP was negatively associated with CRAE (se=-0.25, p<0.0001) and AVR (se=-0.0007, p<0.0001) while SBP was positively associated with CRAE (se=0.08, p=0.001) and AVR (se=0.0003, p=0.0096). Older age per decade was associated with lower values of CRAE and CRVE (p<0.05). Other factors significantly associated with vessel diameters included gender (lower AVR for males), regular alcohol intake (lower CRAE for alcohol consumption), smoking (higher CRAE and CRVE for smokers).

Conclusions:

Our study confirms previous reports about the association of age and blood pressure with vessel diameters. Other factors associated with vessel diameters in our population include gender, alcohol and smoking.“This research has been co‐financed by the European Union (European Social Fund – ESF) and Greek national funds through the Operational Program "Education and Lifelong Learning" of the National Strategic Reference Framework (NSRF) ‐ Research Funding Program: THALES. Investing in knowledge society through the European Social Fund.”

Financial Disclosure:

NONE