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Br J Ophthalmol 2008;92:161-166 doi:10.1136/bjo.2007.127449
  • Global issues

The metabolic syndrome and retinal microvascular signs in a Japanese population: the Funagata study

  1. R Kawasaki1,
  2. J M Tielsch2,
  3. J J Wang3,
  4. T Y Wong4,
  5. P Mitchell3,
  6. Y Tano5,
  7. M Tominaga6,
  8. T Oizumi7,
  9. M Daimon7,
  10. T Kato7,
  11. S Kawata8,
  12. T Kayama8,
  13. H Yamashita1
  1. 1
    Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
  2. 2
    Department of Epidemiology, Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, USA
  3. 3
    University of Sydney Department of Ophthalmology (Centre for Vision Research, Westmead Millennium Institute), Sydney, Australia
  4. 4
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  5. 5
    Department of Ophthalmology, Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan
  6. 6
    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
  7. 7
    Department of Neurology, Hematology, Metabolism, Endocrinology and Diabetology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
  8. 8
    Yamagata University 21st Century COE Program Study Group, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan
  1. R Kawasaki, 2-2-2 Iida-Nishi, Yamagata, Japan, 990-9585; ryok{at}med.id.yamagata-u.ac.jp
  • Accepted 11 September 2007
  • Published Online First 26 October 2007

Abstract

Aims: To determine the relationship of metabolic syndrome and its components with retinopathy and other retinal microvascular signs in a Japanese population.

Methods: The Funagata study recruited 1961 (53.3% of eligible) Japanese aged 35 or older. The metabolic syndrome was diagnosed primarily using definitions of the International Diabetes Federation. Retinopathy and retinal microvascular signs were assessed from fundus photographs. Retinal arteriolar and venular diameters were measured using a computer-assisted programme.

Results: Data were available for analysis in 1638 persons for retinopathy and retinal microvascular signs and 921 persons for retinal vessel diameters. Various components of the metabolic syndrome were associated with retinal microvascular signs: a larger waist circumference was associated with wider venular diameter and retinopathy lesions; a higher blood pressure level was associated with focal arteriolar narrowing, arteriovenous nicking, enhanced arteriolar wall reflex and narrower arteriolar diameter; and a higher triglyceride level was associated with enhanced arteriolar wall reflex. Overall, persons with the metabolic syndrome were more likely to have retinopathy (odds ratio 1.64, 95% CI: 1.02 to 2.64) and wider venular diameter 4.69 μm (95% CI: 1.20 to 8.19 μm) than persons without the metabolic syndrome.

Conclusion: We report associations of metabolic syndrome components with retinopathy and wider venular diameter in Japanese adults. These data suggest that metabolic abnormalities, indicated by metabolic syndrome components, are associated with microvascular changes in the retina. There was no synergistic effect of the metabolic syndrome on retinal microvascular changes beyond its individual components.

Footnotes

  • Competing interests: None.

  • Funding: This study was supported by the 21st Century Centre of Excellence Project, the Japanese Society for the Promotion of Science, Tokyo, Japan (Yamagata University: No. F03 “Molecular Epidemiological Study Utilizing the Regional Characteristics”).

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