Choroidal Thickness in Relation to Bone Mineral Density with Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Area of Science:

• Ophthalmology
• Endocrinology
• Bone Metabolism

Background:

• Bone mineral density (BMD) is a key indicator of skeletal health.
• Choroidal thickness is an important parameter in ocular health assessment.
• Previous research has not extensively explored the relationship between BMD and choroidal thickness.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between bone mineral density (BMD) and choroidal thickness.
• To compare choroidal thickness in individuals with low BMD versus healthy controls.

Main Methods:

• The study included 355 patients with low BMD and 355 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
• Lumbar BMD was measured using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).
• Choroidal thickness was assessed via swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT).

Main Results:

• A significant difference in average choroidal thickness was observed between low BMD and normal subjects (p=0.003).
• Average choroidal thickness was positively correlated with BMD in the entire study population (r=0.125, p=0.001).
• No significant differences in blood pressure, cholesterol, or triglyceride levels were found between groups.

Conclusions:

• Individuals with low bone mineral density exhibit thinner choroids compared to healthy individuals.
• Choroidal thickness shows a significant positive correlation with bone mineral density.
• This association suggests a potential link between systemic bone health and ocular vascular parameters.