Macular pigment optical density and its determinants in a Russian population: the ural eye and medical study

To assess the macular pigment optical density (MPOD) and its associations with ocular and systemic parameters and diseases.

The population-based study Ural Eye and Medical Study included 5899 (80.5%) out of 7328 eligible individuals. As part of ophthalmological and systemic examinations, MPOD was measured by reflectometry.

Macular pigment optical density (MPOD) data were available for 4889 (82.9%) individuals (mean age:57.8 ± 10.1 years;range: 40-94). Mean values for MOPD, maximal MOPD, macular pigment (MP) area and MP volume were 0.13 ± 0.04 d.u. (density units), 0.36 ± 0.09 d.u., 60 791 ± 14 826 pixel and 8033 ± 2888 d.u.pixel, respectively. A higher MP density was correlated (regression coefficient r: 0.63) with older age (standardized regression coefficient beta: 0.59; non-standardized regression coefficient B: 0.23; 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.22, 0.23; p < 0.001), female sex (beta: 0.08; B:0.63; 95%CI: 0.44, 0.83; p < 0.001), rural region of habitation (beta: 0.13; B: 1.02; 95%CI: 0.83, 1.22; p < 0.001), lower body mass index (beta: -0.04; B: -0.03; 95%CI: -0.05, 0.01; p = 0.004), lower prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (beta: -0.03; B: -0.43; 95%CI: -0.79, -0.08; p = 0.02), higher erythrocyte sedimentation rate (beta: 0.03; B: 0.01; 95%CI: 0.002, 0.02; p = 0.03), lower leukocyte cell count (beta: -0.04; B: -0.10; 95%CI: -0.16, -0.03; p = 0.003), thinner temporal parafoveal retinal thickness (beta: -0.06; B: -0.01;95%CI: -0.01, -0.003; p < 0.001), thinner central corneal thickness (beta: -0.06; B: -0.006; 95%CI: -0.009, -0.004; p < 0.001), higher prevalence of pseudophakia (beta: 0.09;B:2.08; 95%CI: 1.50, 2.65; p < 0.001) and reticular pseudo drusen (RPD) (beta: 0.03; B: 0.56; 95%CI: 0.13, 0.98; p = 0.01) and lower stage of open-angle glaucoma (beta: -0.03; B: -0.39; 95%CI: -0.74, -0.04; p = 0. 03). Prevalence (p = 0.44; beta: -0.01) and degree (p = 0.70; beta: -0.01) of angle-closure glaucoma, prevalence (p = 0.31; beta: 0.01) of age-related macular degeneration (AMD) without RPD and prevalence (p = 0.95; beta: 0.001) of diabetic retinopathy were not significantly associated with the mean MP density in that model.

A higher RPD prevalence and lower stage of open-angle glaucoma were ophthalmological disorders associated with a higher MPOD in a multivariable analysis, including parameters of older age, pseudophakia, female sex, rural region, lower body mass index and lower perifoveal retinal thickness.