|
Title
|
|
|
|
Age-related changes in the fractal dimension of the retinal microvasculature, effects of cardiovascular risk factors and smoking behaviour
| |
|
Author
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Abstract
|
|
|
|
| PURPOSE This cross-sectional study investigates the association between retinal vessel complexity and age and studies the effects of cardiovascular health determinants. METHODS Retinal vessel complexity was assessed by calculating the box-counting fractal dimension (Df ) from digital fundus photographs of 850 subjects (3-97 years). All photographs were labelled as 'non-pathological' by the treating ophthalmologist. RESULTS Statistical models showed a significantly decreasing relationship between age and Df (linear: R-squared = 0.1897, p < 0.0001; quadratic: R-squared = 0.2343, p < 0.0001; cubic: R-squared = 0.2721, p < 0.0001), with the cubic regression model offering the best compromise between accuracy and model simplicity. Multivariate cubic regression showed that age, spherical equivalent and smoking behaviour have an effect (p < 0.0001) on Df . A significantly increasing effect of the number of pack-years on Df was observed (effect: 0.0004, p = 0.0017), as well as a significantly decreasing effect of years since tobacco abstinence (effect: -0.0149, p < 0.0001). CONCLUSION We propose using a cubic trend with age, refractive error and smoking behaviour when interpreting retinal vessel complexity. |
| |
|
Language
|
|
|
|
English
| |
|
Source (journal)
|
|
|
|
Acta ophthalmologica (Oxford). - -
| |
|
Publication
|
|
|
|
2022
| |
|
ISSN
|
|
|
|
1755-375X
| |
|
DOI
|
|
|
|
10.1111/AOS.15047
| |
|
Volume/pages
|
|
|
|
100
:5
(2022)
, p. e1112-e1119
| |
|
ISI
|
|
|
|
000715154800001
| |
|
Pubmed ID
|
|
|
|
34747106
| |
|
Full text (Publisher's DOI)
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Full text (open access)
|
|
|
|
| |
|