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Retinal oxygen saturation in 1461 healthy children aged 7-19 and its associated factors
Xiaoxiao Liu1,2, Xiangui He1,3, Yao Yin1
1Department of Preventative Ophthalmology, Shanghai Eye Disease Prevention and Treatment Center, Shanghai Eye Hospital, Shanghai, China.
Insights
This study reveals that older age and longer axial length (AL) are linked to higher retinal oxygen saturation in Chinese children. These findings help establish age-specific normative values for retinal oxygen saturation.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Physiology
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Retinal oxygen saturation (SaO2) is a key indicator of ocular health.
- Normative values for SaO2 in healthy school-aged children are not well-established.
- Understanding factors influencing SaO2 is crucial for detecting potential ocular pathologies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine age-specific normative retinal oxygen saturation values in healthy Chinese school-aged children.
- To investigate factors, including refractive status and axial length, associated with retinal oxygen saturation.
Main Methods:
- A population-based, cross-sectional study involving 1461 healthy Chinese children aged 7-19 years.
- Comprehensive ocular examinations including axial length, cycloplegic refraction, and retinal oximetry (Oxymap T1).
- Multiple linear regression analysis was used to identify independent factors influencing retinal oxygen saturation.
Main Results:
- Mean SaO2, SvO2, and AVD were 83.7±6.4%, 50.1±5.4%, and 33.6±5.4%, respectively, increasing with age.
- Older age and longer axial length (AL) were independently associated with higher SaO2 and AVD.
- Myopic children exhibited higher SaO2, SvO2, and AVD compared to emmetropic and hyperopic children.
Conclusions:
- This study provides age-specific normative profiles for retinal oxygen saturation in Chinese children and adolescents.
- Older age and longer AL are significant independent predictors of increased retinal oxygen saturation.
- Findings contribute to understanding retinal physiology and potential markers for ocular health in pediatric populations.
Purpose:
The aim of the present study was to investigate age-specific normative retinal oxygen saturation values and explore the associated factors in healthy Chinese school-aged children with different refractive statuses.
Design:
Population-based observational cross-sectional study.
Methods:
Children aged 7-19 years were enrolled. Each participant underwent a series of comprehensive ocular examinations, including axial length (AL), cycloplegic refraction and Oxymap T1 imagery following cycloplegia. The acquired oximetry images were measured, and the values of the retinal oxygen saturation parameters were calculated. The independent factors of the retinal oxygen saturation were analysed using multiple linear regression. The oxygen saturation of retinal arteries (SaO2 ) and veins (SvO2 ) as well as the differences between the arteries and veins (AVD) were measured as the main outcomes.
Results:
In total, 1461 participants were included in the study. The mean age of the participants was 12.1 ± 3.2 years, and 53.0% were boys. The mean SaO2 , SvO2 and AVD values were 83.7 ± 6.4%, 50.1 ± 5.4% and 33.6 ± 5.4%, respectively, and the values increased with age. Girls had higher SvO2 and lower AVD than boys (p < 0.05). The Pearson correlation coefficients among spherical equivalent (SE) and SaO2 , SvO2 and AVD were -0.372, -0.203 and -0.240, respectively (all p < 0.001), while the correlations between AL and SaO2 , SvO2 and AVD were 0.276, 0.106 and 0.221, respectively (all p < 0.001). The myopia group had significantly higher SaO2 , SvO2 and AVD than the emmetropia and hyperopia groups (p < 0.001), but the high myopia group had lower SaO2 and SvO2 than the moderate myopia group. When age, gender, body mass index (BMI), intraocular pressure (IOP) and axial length (AL) were included as factors in the multiple regression, older age was associated with higher SaO2 , SvO2 and AVD, while longer AL was associated with higher SaO2 and AVD. Gender was an independent factor predicting SvO2 , while gender and BMI were the independent factors predicting AVD. Age explained more variance than AL in SaO2 , SvO2 and AVD.
Conclusions:
Our population-based study provides age-specific profiles of retinal oxygen saturation in Chinese children and adolescents. Older age and longer AL were important independent factors of increased retinal oxygen saturation.
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