Central arterial stiffness and retinal vessel calibers: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study–Neurocognitive Study
Year: 2019
Type: article
Abstract: BACKGROUND: The retinal microvasculature provides a window to the cerebral vasculature and enables examination of changes in retinal caliber that may mimic those occurring in cerebrovascular disease. The association of central arterial stiffness and retinal vessel caliber in a population sample is not fully understood. METHODS: In 1706 older adults (mean age 76.3, 58.1% women) from the population-based Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study, we examined the cross-sectional association of central arterial stiffness [carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV)] with retinal vessel calibers [central retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE) and central retinal vein equivalent (CRVE)]. We estimated the association of cfPWV with CRAE narrowing (<25th percentile) and CRVE widening (>75th percentile) after adjustment for age, sex, race-field center, BMI, smoking, and type 2 diabetes. We tested for effect modification by sex, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes. RESULTS: Carotid-femoral PWV (m/s) was not associated with the odds of CRAE narrowing [odds ratio (OR): 0.99; 95% CI: 0.95-1.03]. The association of cfPWV with CRVE widening was stronger in those without hypertension (OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.01-1.20) versus those with hypertension (OR: 1.01 95% CI: 0.96-1.05) and slightly stronger in those with type 2 diabetes (OR: 1.07; 95% CI: 1.00-1.14) versus without type 2 diabetes (OR: 1.01; 95% CI: 0.96-1.06). CONCLUSIONS: In older adults, cfPWV was associated with wider retinal venular caliber, particularly in individuals without hypertension. Central arterial stiffening may be associated with cerebral microvascular changes, as exhibited in its retinal vasculature component.
Source: Journal of Hypertension
Institutions: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, University of Wisconsin–Madison, Columbia University, Johns Hopkins University, Michael E. DeBakey VA Medical Center, Baylor College of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore National Eye Center, Singapore Eye Research Institute, The University of Texas at Austin
Language: English
Subfield: Cardiology and Cardiovascular Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
Funders: National Institutes of Health, National Institute on Aging, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development
Awards: G1114307781, G1201667161, G1262629770, G1304508731, G1304838974, G1328425623, G140664742, G1522370804, G1589692941, G2042952906, G2117773213, G2195207551, G2262505034, G2468260354, G2568281471, G2607172802, G2655192887, G2701926366, G293741327, G3103017843, Physical Activity and Preservation of Cognitive Function, G3329506677, G3744596180, G3973572274, G4068323944, G4230684217, G4290615481, G4597579782, ARIC Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS) Renewal UNC 4 of 5, G4739409156, G4747441672, G4790942633, G4845182219, G5023962947, G5364873420, G5464419710, G5556898879, G5622883882, G5770678025, G583528397, G5928944960, G5981726443, G5999060983, G6322445267, G6483657930, G6594067713, ARIC Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS) Renewal 2 of 5, ARIC Neurocognitive Study (ARIC-NCS), G6837735701, G6863459535, G6978868085, G706815212, G7132376052, G7155745631, G7535686976, G7799800877, G7804167723, G7806539067, G7808459314, G8738262636, G8951135482, G8976278160, G899128061, G9000038488, G9000053661, G9000071824, G9000074502, G9000146611, G9000165945, G9000267281, G901665369, G968738093
OpenAlex ID: W2977636691