TY - JOUR
T1 - Retinal fractal dimension is increased in persons with diabetes but not impaired glucose metabolism
T2 - The Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study
AU - Yau, J. W.Y.
AU - Kawasaki, R.
AU - Islam, F. M.A.
AU - Shaw, J.
AU - Zimmet, P.
AU - Wang, J. J.
AU - Wong, T. Y.
PY - 2010/9
Y1 - 2010/9
N2 - Aims/hypothesis: The fractal dimension (D f) of the retinal vasculature is a global measure of its branching pattern complexity. We examined the relationship of retinal D f with diabetes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,577 participants with diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism and normal controls from the population-based Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Retinal D f was quantified from fundus photographs using a computer-based programme and diabetes status was determined by oral glucose tolerance test based on the WHO criteria. Results: After adjustment for age, sex and vascular risk factors, persons with higher retinal D f were more likely to have diabetes (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.14-2.14, highest vs lowest fractal tertile). This relationship remained with further adjustment for retinal arteriolar calibre and presence of retinopathy (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.19-2.27), and after excluding participants with retinopathy (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.16-2.21). Retinal D f was not related to impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.85-1.67). Conclusions/interpretation: Individuals with diabetes, but not with impaired glucose metabolism, have greater retinal D f, reflecting greater complexity of the retinal vasculature. Our findings suggest the presence of early microvascular changes in the retinal vasculature of persons with diabetes, even in the absence of overt retinopathy.
AB - Aims/hypothesis: The fractal dimension (D f) of the retinal vasculature is a global measure of its branching pattern complexity. We examined the relationship of retinal D f with diabetes. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 1,577 participants with diabetes and impaired glucose metabolism and normal controls from the population-based Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) study. Retinal D f was quantified from fundus photographs using a computer-based programme and diabetes status was determined by oral glucose tolerance test based on the WHO criteria. Results: After adjustment for age, sex and vascular risk factors, persons with higher retinal D f were more likely to have diabetes (OR 1.56; 95% CI 1.14-2.14, highest vs lowest fractal tertile). This relationship remained with further adjustment for retinal arteriolar calibre and presence of retinopathy (OR 1.64; 95% CI 1.19-2.27), and after excluding participants with retinopathy (OR 1.60; 95% CI 1.16-2.21). Retinal D f was not related to impaired glucose tolerance or impaired fasting glucose (OR 1.19; 95% CI 0.85-1.67). Conclusions/interpretation: Individuals with diabetes, but not with impaired glucose metabolism, have greater retinal D f, reflecting greater complexity of the retinal vasculature. Our findings suggest the presence of early microvascular changes in the retinal vasculature of persons with diabetes, even in the absence of overt retinopathy.
KW - Diabetes
KW - Diabetic retinopathy
KW - Fundus photographs
KW - Impaired glucose metabolism
KW - Microvascular changes
KW - Retinal fractal dimension
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=77955549967&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00125-010-1811-z
DO - 10.1007/s00125-010-1811-z
M3 - Article
C2 - 20523965
AN - SCOPUS:77955549967
SN - 0012-186X
VL - 53
SP - 2042
EP - 2045
JO - Diabetologia
JF - Diabetologia
IS - 9
ER -