The role of retinal vessels caliber as a marker of vascular aging in large arteries

To analyze the relationship between retinal vessel caliber and large arterial structure and function in a sample of the general population. A cross-sectional study was conducted among 229 participants from the EVIDENT trial (mean age 55.6±12.1 years, 61.1% women). Retinal photographs were digitized, temporal vessels were measured in an area of 0.5 to 1 disc diameter from the optic disc and the arterio-venous ratio (AVR) was estimated. Vascular structure and function were assessed by evaluating carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AIx), ankle brachial index and ambulatory arterial stiffness index. The mean AVR was 0.792 ± 0.082, calculated from an arterial caliber of 109.1 ± 12.5 μm and a venous caliber of 138.7 ± 15.4 μm. A total of 13.1% of the patients presented vascular damage. The AVR was inversely correlated with carotid IMT (r = -0.190, P