Differential Effects of Adiposity and Childhood Growth Trajectories on Retinal Microvascular Architecture. (12th October 2013)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Tapp, Robyn J.; Ness, Andrew; Williams, Cathy; Howe, Laura D.; Tilling, Kate; Witt, Nicholas; Chaturvedi, Nish; McG Thom, Simon A.; Hughes, Alun D.
• Is Part Of: Microcirculation. Volume 20:Number 7(2013:Oct.)
• Page Start: 609
• Page End: 616
• Publication Date: 2013-10-12
• Subjects: Biological transport -- Periodicals; Microcirculation -- Physiology -- Periodicals; 612.135
• DOI: 10.1111/micc.12060
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1073-9688

Abstract

<abstract abstract-type="main" id="micc12060-abs-0001"> <title>Abstract</title> <sec id="micc12060-sec-0001" sec-type="section"> <title>Objectives</title> <p>We hypothesized that trajectories of adiposity across childhood would be associated with retinal microcirculatory diameters at age 12 years, independent of BP.</p> </sec> <sec id="micc12060-sec-0002" sec-type="section"> <title>Methods</title> <p>The ALSPAC followed a cohort of children born in 1991–1992. The current study includes all children with retinal images acquired at the 12 years clinic and individual trajectories of PI from 0 to 2 years and BMI from 2 to 10 years. Retinal microvascular measures included retinal arteriolar and venular diameters.</p> </sec> <sec id="micc12060-sec-0003" sec-type="section"> <title>Results</title> <p>Children in this analysis had a birth weight of 3.5 ± 0.4 kg, a PI of 26.2 ± 2.4 kg/m<sup>3</sup> and a gestational age of 39.7 ± 1.4 weeks (mean ± SD). Analysis of growth trajectories showed that lower PI at birth was associated with narrower retinal arterioles. Higher PI at birth was associated with wider venular diameter, and a stronger positive association was evident between BMI change at 5–5.5 and 8.5–10 years with wider venular diameters. Current fat mass was also associated with wider venular diameters.</p> </sec> <sec id="micc12060-sec-0004" sec-type="section"> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Retinal arterioles and venules are differentially associated with growth in early life and childhood adiposity. Early adiposity may adversely affect the microcirculation, with important implications for cardiovascular risk in adulthood.</p> </sec> </abstract>