OBJECTIVE: Obesity is linked with large vessel @entity731 and @entity6 . Its association with microvascular changes is less clear. We investigated the associations among retinal vessel diameters, vessel wall signs, and BMI in an older population. RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCEDURES: Retinal photographs were taken on 3654 @entity1 aged 49+ years at baseline of the Blue Mountains Eye Study in Australia. Arteriolar and venular diameters were measured from digitized retinal photographs of the right eyes. BMI was calculated as weight (kilograms)/height (meters2). Incident @entity28 was defined in @entity1 with BMI < or = 30 at baseline but > 30 after 5 years. A significant @entity1017 was defined as an increase in BMI of 2+ SDs (4 or more units) over the 5-year period. RESULTS: At baseline, mean BMI was 26.1 (+/-4.6) in this population. At 5-year examinations, 177 (10.0% of 1773 at risk) developed incident @entity28 , and 136 (6.4% of 2143 at risk) had significant @entity1017 . After adjusting for age, sex, smoking, @entity412 levels, and mean arterial blood pressure, @entity1 with wider retinal venular diameters had a higher risk of incident @entity28 (odds ratio, 1.8; 95% confidence interval, 1.0 to 3.1, comparing the highest with lowest venular diameter quintiles) and significant @entity1017 (odds ratio, 1.7; 95% confidence interval, 0.9 to 3.2). These associations were attenuated with further adjustment for baseline BMI. Arteriolar diameter was unrelated with baseline or change in BMI. DISCUSSION: Wider retinal venular diameter is associated with risk of @entity28 , independent of @entity101 , @entity6 , lipids, and cigarette smoking. These data may support a role for impaired microvascular function in the course of @entity1017 .

Retinal vessel diameters and XXXX : a population-based study in older @entity1 .

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['persons'] @entity101 :: ('MESH:D006973', 'Disease') :: ['hypertension'] @entity6 :: ('MESH:D003920', 'Disease') :: ['diabetes'] @entity28 :: ('MESH:D009765', 'Disease') :: ['obesity'] @entity1017 :: ('MESH:D015430', 'Disease') :: ['weight gain'] @entity412 :: ('CHEBI:17855', 'Chemical') :: ['triglyceride'] @entity731 :: ('MESH:D050197', 'Disease') :: ['atherosclerosis']
@entity28 :: (MESH:D009765,Disease) :: ['obesity']
