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The relationship of body fatness indices and retinal vascular caliber in children
Ling-Jun Li1, Carol Yim-Lui Cheung, Audrey Chia
1Department of Epidemiology & Public Health, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine , National University of Singapore , Singapore.
Insights
Higher body fatness, indicated by triceps skinfold (TSF) and body mass index (BMI), is linked to wider retinal venular calibre in children. This suggests early microvascular changes in the retina may be associated with increased body fat.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatrics
- Public Health
Background:
- Childhood obesity is a growing global concern.
- Retinal vascular calibre can reflect systemic microvascular health.
- Understanding early indicators of microvascular changes in children is crucial.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between body fatness indices and retinal vascular calibre in Singaporean Chinese children.
- To determine if increased body fat correlates with changes in retinal blood vessel width.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 136 Singapore Chinese children aged 6-16 years.
- Measured anthropometric data including weight, height, and triceps skinfold (TSF).
- Assessed retinal photographs to determine arteriolar and venular calibres.
Main Results:
- Each standard deviation increase in TSF and BMI was associated with a widening of retinal venular calibre.
- Children with TSF and BMI above established thresholds showed significantly wider retinal venular calibres compared to those below thresholds.
- These associations were statistically significant (p < 0.05).
Conclusions:
- Elevated TSF and BMI are associated with wider retinal venular calibre in healthy children.
- These findings suggest that abnormal body fatness may influence early retinal microvascular changes in children.
- Retinal vascular calibre could serve as a potential indicator for early detection of microvascular alterations related to body fatness in pediatric populations.
Objective:
To examine the association between body fatness indices and retinal vascular calibre in Singapore Chinese children.
Methods:
We recruited 136 Singapore Chinese children aged 6-16 years from the STARS (The Strabismus, Amblyopia and Refractive Error Study in Singaporean Chinese Preschoolers) Family study in 2008-2010. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height and triceps skinfold (TSF) and right eye retinal photographs were performed. TSF was measured with Holtain-Tanner calliper on the back of the arm and midway between the point of the acromoion and olecranon process while the arm was hanging relaxed. TSF and BMI threshold (cut-off points for overweight and obesity) were defined as 85th and above of age- and gender-specific TSF and BMI standard charts which were based on American representative survey data.
Results:
The mean retinal arteriolar and venular calibres were 155.78 ? 15.02 ?m and 219.66 ? 21.88 ?m, respectively in the STARS Family study. Each standard deviation (SD) increase in TSF (4.49 mm) and BMI (3.52 kg/m(2)) was associated with a 2.94 ?m (p = 0.012) and a 3.40 ?m (p = 0.005) widening in retinal venular calibre, respectively. Compared with children with TSF and BMI below threshold, children with TSF and BMI above threshold had a 10.21 ?m (p = 0.001) and a 9.33 ?m (p = 0.021) increase in retinal venular calibre, respectively.
Conclusions:
Greater TSF and BMI are associated with wider retinal venular calibre in healthy children aged 6 years and above. These findings suggest a possible effect of abnormal body fatness indices on early retinal vascular changes that reflect microvasculature in children.
