Retinal nerve fibre layer thickness measured with SD-OCT in a population-based study: the Handan Eye Study

• Published in: British journal of ophthalmology Vol. 107; no. 8; pp. 1156 - 1164
• Main Authors: Wu, Jian, Du, Yifan, Lin, Caixia, Zhu, Yingting, Chen, Wei, Pan, Qing, Zhuo, Yehong, Wang, Ningli
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: BMA House, Tavistock Square, London, WC1H 9JR BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.08.2023; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Publishing Group
• Subjects: Adult; Age; Aged; Blood pressure; Body mass index; Cardiovascular disease; Clinical Science; Diabetes; epidemiology; Eye diseases; Female; Glaucoma; High density lipoprotein; Humans; Hypertension; Lipoproteins; Male; Medical personnel; Middle Aged; Nerve Fibers; Nervous system; Neurodegeneration; Ophthalmology; optic nerve; Population; Population-based studies; Retina; Retinal Ganglion Cells; Tomography, Optical Coherence - methods; Variance analysis; Japan; epidemiology; retina; optic nerve
• ISSN: 0007-1161; 1468-2079; 1468-2079
• DOI: 10.1136/bjophthalmol-2021-320618

PurposeTo examine the normative profile of retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) thickness and ocular parameters based on spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and its associations with related parameters among the Chinese population.MethodsThis population-based cohort Handan Eye Study (HES) recruited participants aged≥30 years. All subjects underwent a standardised ophthalmic examination. Peripapillary RNFL thickness was obtained using SD-OCT. Mixed linear models were adopted to evaluate the correlation of RNFL thickness with ocular parameters as well as systemic factors. R V.3.6.1 software was used for statistical analysis.Results3509 subjects (7024 eyes) with the average age of 55.54±10.37 were collected in this analysis. Overall mean RNFL thickness measured was 113.46±10.90 µm, and the thickest quadrant of parapapillary RNFL was the inferior quadrant, followed by the superior quadrant, the nasal quadrant and the temporal quadrant. In the multivariate linear regression model, thinner RNFL thickness was remarkable association with male (p<0.001), older age (p<0.001), increased body mass index (>30, p=0.018), absence of diabetes (p=0.009), history of cataract surgery (p=0.001), higher intraocular pressure (p=0.007), lower spherical equivalent (p<0.001) and increased axial length (p=0.048).ConclusionsIn non-glaucoma individuals, this difference of RNFL thickness in Chinese population should be noted in making disease diagnoses. Meanwhile, multiple ocular and systemic factors are closely related to the thickness of RNFL. Our findings further emphasise the need to demonstrate ethnic differences in RNFL thickness and the specificity of associated ocular and systemic factors, as well as to develop better normative databases worldwide.Trial registration numberHES was registered in Chinese Clinical Trial Registry website, and the registry number was ChiCTR-EOC-17013214.