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Association between Physical Activity and Retinal Microvascular Signs: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study
Author(s) -
TIKELLIS GABRIELLA,
ANURADHA SATYAMURTHY,
KLEIN RONALD,
WONG TIEN Y.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
microcirculation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.793
H-Index - 83
eISSN - 1549-8719
pISSN - 1073-9688
DOI - 10.1111/j.1549-8719.2010.00033.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retinal , cross sectional study , odds ratio , confidence interval , cardiorespiratory fitness , population , diabetic retinopathy , physical therapy , cardiology , ophthalmology , diabetes mellitus , pathology , endocrinology , environmental health
Microcirculation (2010) 17 , 381–393. doi: 10.1111/j.1549‐8719.2010.00033.x Abstract Objective: To examine the association between physical activity measured during leisure, sport, and work and retinal microvascular signs. Methods: Participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a population‐based cross‐sectional study, had retinal photographs taken at their third follow up visit (1993–1995). Retinal microvascular signs were assessed using a standardized protocol and retinal vascular caliber by a computer‐assisted method. Leisure, sport, and work‐related physical activity levels were determined through a modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire. Results: A higher level of physical activity during sport and work was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of arteriovenous (AV) nicking, wider venular caliber, and retinopathy. In multivariate models, persons with a level of sport‐related physical activity above the median were less likely to have AV nicking (odds ratio [OR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78–0.97) and wider retinal venules (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83–0.99). Persons with a level of work‐related physical activity above the median were less likely to have diabetic retinopathy (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51–0.85). Conclusions: In this cross‐sectional analyzes, higher levels of physical activity was associated with a lower prevalence of retinal microvascular abnormalities.