Retinal vascular tortuosity in persons with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Aim/hypothesis The aim of this hypothesis was to examine the association of retinal vessel tortuosity with diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Methods A clinic-based study of 327 participants (224 with diabetes and 103 non-diabetic controls) aged ≥18 years. DR was graded from fundus photographs according to the modified Airlie House Classification system and categorised into mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR), moderate NPDR and vision-threatening DR (VTDR). Retinal vessel tortuosity was measured from disc-centred retinal photographs. Measurements were taken, using a semiautomated computer program by a single grader, of arterioles and venules within 0.5 to 2 disc diameters away from the optic disc. Results There were 114 (44%) participants with DR. In the multivariate analysis, retinal arteriolar and venular tortuosity were increased in participants with diabetes without DR (mean difference 12.4×10 -5 and 13.3×10 -5, respectively; both p