Darryl Nousome1, Roberta Mckean-Cowdin1, Grace M Richter2, Bruce Burkemper1, Mina Torres3, Rohit Varma4, Xuejuan Jiang5. 1. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. 2. USC Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. 3. Southern California Eye Institute, CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. 4. Southern California Eye Institute, CHA Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: rvarma@sceyes.org. 5. Department of Preventive Medicine, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California; USC Roski Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California. Electronic address: xuejuanj@usc.edu.
Abstract
PURPOSE: To compare peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness among healthy adults by race and ethnicity and to identify determinants of RNFL thickness. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Data from 6133 individuals (11 585 eyes) from 3 population-based studies in Los Angeles County, California, 50 years of age or older and of self-described African, Chinese, or Latin American ancestry. METHODS: We measured RNFL thickness and optic nerve head parameters using the Cirrus HD-OCT 4000. Multivariate linear mixed regression was used to evaluate factors associated with RNFL thickness among participants without ocular diseases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Determinants and modifiers of RNFL thickness. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 60.1 years (standard deviation, 7.4 years). Black Americans showed the lowest RNFL thickness and smallest cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), and Chinese Americans showed the largest CDR and disc area after adjusting for age and gender (all P < 0.05). Per each 10-year older age group, the average RNFL thickness was 2.5 μm (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-3.1 μm), 2.8 μm (95% CI, 2.3-3.3 μm), and 3.5 μm (95% CI, 2.9-4.1 μm) thinner for Black, Chinese, and Latino Americans, respectively (age trend P < 0.05 and interaction P = 0.041). Black Americans compared with Chinese Americans, older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, greater axial length (AL), bigger disc area, and lower scan signal strength were associated with thinner average RNFL. Race, age, AL, disc area, and scan signal strength consistently were associated with RNFL thickness in all quadrants, whereas gender, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with RNFL thickness in select quadrants. Age and race explained the greatest proportion of variance of RNFL thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically important differences in RNFL thickness are present in healthy adults 50 years of age or older from different racial and ethnic groups of the same age, with the thinnest measures observed in Black Americans. This difference remains after accounting for disc size and AL. Furthermore, age-related RNFL thinning differs by race and ethnicity. Longitudinal studies are needed to verify our findings and to assess the influence of race and ethnicity in the clinical application of RNFL thickness.
PURPOSE: To compare peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness among healthy adults by race and ethnicity and to identify determinants of RNFL thickness. DESIGN: Population-based cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Data from 6133 individuals (11 585 eyes) from 3 population-based studies in Los Angeles County, California, 50 years of age or older and of self-described African, Chinese, or Latin American ancestry. METHODS: We measured RNFL thickness and optic nerve head parameters using the Cirrus HD-OCT 4000. Multivariate linear mixed regression was used to evaluate factors associated with RNFL thickness among participants without ocular diseases. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Determinants and modifiers of RNFL thickness. RESULTS: The mean age of the participants was 60.1 years (standard deviation, 7.4 years). Black Americans showed the lowest RNFL thickness and smallest cup-to-disc ratio (CDR), and Chinese Americans showed the largest CDR and disc area after adjusting for age and gender (all P < 0.05). Per each 10-year older age group, the average RNFL thickness was 2.5 μm (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.8-3.1 μm), 2.8 μm (95% CI, 2.3-3.3 μm), and 3.5 μm (95% CI, 2.9-4.1 μm) thinner for Black, Chinese, and Latino Americans, respectively (age trend P < 0.05 and interaction P = 0.041). Black Americans compared with Chinese Americans, older age, male gender, hypertension, diabetes, greater axial length (AL), bigger disc area, and lower scan signal strength were associated with thinner average RNFL. Race, age, AL, disc area, and scan signal strength consistently were associated with RNFL thickness in all quadrants, whereas gender, hypertension, and diabetes were associated with RNFL thickness in select quadrants. Age and race explained the greatest proportion of variance of RNFL thickness. CONCLUSIONS: Clinically important differences in RNFL thickness are present in healthy adults 50 years of age or older from different racial and ethnic groups of the same age, with the thinnest measures observed in Black Americans. This difference remains after accounting for disc size and AL. Furthermore, age-related RNFL thinning differs by race and ethnicity. Longitudinal studies are needed to verify our findings and to assess the influence of race and ethnicity in the clinical application of RNFL thickness.
Authors: Henrietta Ho; Yih-Chung Tham; Miao Li Chee; Yuan Shi; Nicholas Y Q Tan; Kah-Hie Wong; Shivani Majithia; Carol Y Cheung; Tin Aung; Tien Yin Wong; Ching-Yu Cheng Journal: Ophthalmology Date: 2018-12-04 Impact factor: 12.079
Authors: Xinbo Zhang; Brian A Francis; Anna Dastiridou; Vikas Chopra; Ou Tan; Rohit Varma; David S Greenfield; Joel S Schuman; David Huang Journal: Transl Vis Sci Technol Date: 2016-03-04 Impact factor: 3.283
Authors: Kendra L Hong; Bruce Burkemper; Anna L Urrea; Brenda R Chang; Jae C Lee; Vivian H LeTran; Zhongdi Chu; Xiao Zhou; Benjamin Y Xu; Brandon J Wong; Brian J Song; Xuejuan Jiang; Ruikang K Wang; Rohit Varma; Grace M Richter Journal: Am J Ophthalmol Date: 2021-06-05 Impact factor: 5.488