ASN's Mission

To create a world without kidney diseases, the ASN Alliance for Kidney Health elevates care by educating and informing, driving breakthroughs and innovation, and advocating for policies that create transformative changes in kidney medicine throughout the world.

learn more

Contact ASN

1401 H St, NW, Ste 900, Washington, DC 20005

email@asn-online.org

202-640-4660

The Latest on X

Kidney Week

Abstract: TH-PO459

Impact of Ageing and Cardiovascular Risk Factors on Retinal Neurodegeneration Assessed by Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Session Information

Category: Hypertension and CVD

  • 1401 Hypertension and CVD: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Prevention

Authors

  • Jung, Susanne, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
  • Bosch, Agnes, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
  • Kohler, Nikolas Ludwig, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
  • Ott, Christian, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Erlangen, Germany
  • Kannenkeril, Dennis, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
  • Dienemann, Thomas, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
  • Harazny, Joanna M., University Erlangen-Nueremberg, Erlangen, Germany
  • Schmieder, Roland E., University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
Background

Spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) has become a reliable imaging technique for the evaluation of retinal layer volumes. The aim of this study is to characterize age-related neuroretinal alterations and thereby identify risk factors for the process of retinal ageing.

Methods

This was a prospective observational single center study including 62 healthy subjects–25 young (aged<40 years) and 37 elderly healthy individuals (aged≥40 years). Macular retinal layer volumes of both eyes were evaluated by SD-OCT, comprising total retinal volume and each layer separately.

Results

In the group of young subjects (12 females/13 males, aged 25.1±3.5years) fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and HbA1c were significantly lower than in elderly subjects (28 females/9 males, aged 58.2±10years). There were no significant differences in systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Gender-adjusted retinal layer volumes of both eyes including total retinal, RNFL, ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL), GCL-IPL, inner retinal layer (IRL, comprising RNFL, GCL-IPL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL) volume were lower in the group of elderly subjects compared to young individuals. Additionally, partial correlation analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between retinal layer volumes and age (r range: -0.633 to -0.272, p range: <0.001-0.032), SBP (r range: -0.319 to -0.266, p range: 0.014-0.036), DBP (r range: -0.386 to -0.275, p range: 0.004-0.035), FPG (r range: -0.448 to -0.297, p range: 0.001-0.036) and HbA1c (r range: -0.433 to -0.286, p range: 0.002-0.044).

Conclusion

In this study, we detected significant differences in retinal layer volumes indicating age-related retinal neurodegenerative processes and identified risk factors for retinal ageing such as hypertension and a dysregulated glucose metabolism.

Retinal layer volumes
Retinal layer volume [mm^3]Young subjects
Right eye / left eye
Elderly subjects
Right eye / left eye
Gender-adjusted p value
Right eye / left eye
Total retina8.86±0.40 / 8.80±0.378.47±0.35 / 8.46±0.35< 0.001 / 0.001
Retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL)1.00±0.14 / 0.93±0.080.91±0.11 / 0.86±0.120.007 / 0.003
Ganglion cell layer (GCL)1.14±0.07 / 1.13±0.071.04±0.07 /1.04±0.09< 0.001
Inner plexiform layer (IPL)0.91±0.06 / 0.92±0.050.80±0.06 / 0.88±0.070.007 / 0.003
GCL-IPL2.05±0.13 / 2.05±0.121.92±0.13 / 1.91±0.16< 0.001
Inner retinal layer6.59±0.30 / 6.56±0.336.23±0.31 / 6.20±0.33< 0.001
Outer nuclear layer1.81±0.25 / 1.83±0.241.65±0.19 / 1.68±0.180.020 / 0.018