Determining Gender-Based Differences in Retinal and Choroidal Thickness in Underweight Individuals via Swept-Source Optical Coherence Tomography

Summary

Here, swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) is used to compare retinal and choroidal thickness in adults with and without malnutrition, contributing to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of ocular diseases in malnourished individuals.

Abstract

Despite improvements in reducing hunger in recent years, undernutrition remains a global public health problem. This study utilizes the swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) technique to assess changes in retinal and choroidal thickness in underweight subjects. Ophthalmic examinations were conducted on all adults participating in this cross-sectional research. Depending on their body mass index (BMI), the participants were divided into two groups: the underweight group and the normal group. The study included the right eyes of the underweight adults and an equal number of age- and gender-matched normal-weight subjects. The retinal thickness showed no significant difference between the underweight and normal groups (P > 0.05 for all). In males, the retina of the center and inner ring in the underweight group was significantly thinner than that in the normal group, while no such results were found in females. The choroid in the underweight group was significantly thinner compared to that in the normal group (all P < 0.05). Being underweight may affect choroidal thickness in both males and females. In comparison with underweight females, underweight males may experience more retinal damage. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the pathogenesis underlying specific ocular diseases in malnourished individuals.

Introduction

Despite the Health Organization's successful efforts to combat hunger in recent years, undernutrition remains a significant global public health concern. Globally, it was estimated that 9.8% of the population was undernourished in 2022¹. The incidence of undernutrition varies across regions, with higher prevalence among individuals with lower socioeconomic status^2,3,4. Additionally, some individuals, especially young people, lose weight excessively in pursuit of a perfect body shape. Malnutrition, in all its various forms, affects every country in ....

Protocol

This research was conducted at Huashan Hospital of Fudan University from January 2020 to October 2020. The study was approved by the Institutional Review Board of Huashan Hospital (No. KY2016-274), and all participating adults provided written informed consent.

1. Selection of participants

1. Record all participants' demographic characteristics, such as age, gender, and a history of systemic diseases. Consider the following as the exclusion criteria: (1) age < 18 years or > 70 years old and (2) a history of systemic diseases related to retinal or choroidal thickness, including diabetes mellitus, hyperte....

Results

A total of 996 right eyes from 996 underweight adults were evaluated in this study, with 1:1 age- and gender-matched normal-weight subjects. The demographic characteristics of both groups are summarized in Table 1. The underweight group had an average BMI of 17.48 ± 0.75 kg/m² (range: 14.60-18.40 kg/m²), while the normal-weight group had an average BMI of 21.30 ± 1.75 kg/m² (range: 18.50-24.90 kg/m²).

Table 2 present.......

Discussion

In this study, SS-OCT was employed to compare retinal and choroidal thickness in adults with and without malnutrition. The outcomes of the study showed that, among males, individuals in the underweight group had significantly thinner retinas in the central and inner ring regions compared to those in the normal group. However, no such differences were observed among females. Additionally, the choroid was found to be significantly thinner in the underweight group compared to the normal group in both males and females. Thes.......

Materials

List of materials used in this article

Name	Company	Catalog Number	Comments
Height and weight meter	DKi, Beijing, China	HC01000209
Ophthalmoscope	66 Vision-Tech, Suzhou, China	V259204
Slit-lamp microscope	Topcon, Tokyo, Japan	6822
SPSS software	IBM, Chicago, USA	ECS000143
Swept-source optical coherence tomography	Topcon, Tokyo, Japan	185261
Visual chart	Yuejin, Shanghai, China	H24104