The relationship of body fatness indices and retinal vascular caliber in children.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the association between body fatness indices and retinal vascular calibre in Singapore Chinese children.

METHODS

We recruited 136 Singapore Chinese children aged 6-16 years from the STARS (The Strabismus, Amblyopia and Refractive Error Study in Singaporean Chinese Preschoolers) Family study in 2008-2010. Anthropometric measurements including weight, height and triceps skinfold (TSF) and right eye retinal photographs were performed. TSF was measured with Holtain-Tanner calliper on the back of the arm and midway between the point of the acromoion and olecranon process while the arm was hanging relaxed. TSF and BMI threshold (cut-off points for overweight and obesity) were defined as 85th and above of age- and gender-specific TSF and BMI standard charts which were based on American representative survey data.

RESULTS

The mean retinal arteriolar and venular calibres were 155.78 ? 15.02 ?m and 219.66 ? 21.88 ?m, respectively in the STARS Family study. Each standard deviation (SD) increase in TSF (4.49 mm) and BMI (3.52 kg/m(2)) was associated with a 2.94 ?m (p = 0.012) and a 3.40 ?m (p = 0.005) widening in retinal venular calibre, respectively. Compared with children with TSF and BMI below threshold, children with TSF and BMI above threshold had a 10.21 ?m (p = 0.001) and a 9.33 ?m (p = 0.021) increase in retinal venular calibre, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Greater TSF and BMI are associated with wider retinal venular calibre in healthy children aged 6 years and above. These findings suggest a possible effect of abnormal body fatness indices on early retinal vascular changes that reflect microvasculature in children.