CORRELATION OF CHOROIDAL THICKNESS AND BODY MASS INDEX

To evaluate the possible changes in the microvascular structure of the choroid by measuring choroidal thickness (CT) in four different body mass index (BMI) groups of healthy individuals.

One hundred and sixty eyes of 160 healthy individuals (70 females and 90 males) were included in this cross-sectional study. Healthy individuals were divided into 4 groups according to their BMIs. Cases with BMI ≤ 18.50 formed Group 1, cases with BMI between 18.50 and 24.99 formed Group 2, cases with BMI between 25.00 and 29.99 formed Group 3, and cases with BMI between 30.00 and 34.99 formed Group 4. The CT was measured by the enhanced depth imaging technique of the spectral domain optical coherence tomography. The CT was measured at subfoveal area and at 500-μm intervals to the nasal and temporal to the fovea up to 2,000 μm. The measurements were then statistically compared among the four groups.

The mean ages were 26.5 ± 6.9 years (range: 18-39 years) in Group 1, 27.2 ± 5.0 (range: 21-38 years) in Group 2, 28.5 ± 5.9 (range: 20-40 years) in Group 3, and 29.25 ± 5.6 (range: 20-40 years) in Group 4. The mean subfoveal CT (in micrometers) was 378 ± 86 (range: 189-563) in Group 1, 384 ± 102 (range: 225-643) in Group 2, 314 ± 66 (range: 160-455) in Group 3, and 317 ± 63 (range: 220-411) in Group 4. There was a statistically significant difference among the 4 groups in regard to CT in all locations (P < 0.05).

We have demonstrated that BMI may have an influence on the CT of healthy persons. Individuals in both Group 3 and Group 4 have thinner choroids than the individuals in both Group 1 and Group 2.