Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography

BackgroundThe retina serves as a non-invasive window to visualize systemic health, with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enabling simultaneous assessment of retinal structural thickness and vascular density. Suboptimal cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health status, defined by th...

Полное описание

Сохранить в:
Библиографические подробности
Главные авторы: Yunyi Liang, Congbi Liang, Jianping Yang, Wanhua Li, Runyi Liang, Kun Li, Jingfeng Zhang, Peiqiong Lao, Junhua Zhu, Lin An, Zhaohao Liang, Chubin Ou
Формат: Статья
Язык:английский
Опубликовано: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-07-01
Серии:Frontiers in Medicine
Предметы:
Online-ссылка:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1614321/full
Метки: Добавить метку
Нет меток, Требуется 1-ая метка записи!
_version_ 1839639766560145408
author Yunyi Liang
Congbi Liang
Jianping Yang
Wanhua Li
Runyi Liang
Kun Li
Jingfeng Zhang
Peiqiong Lao
Junhua Zhu
Lin An
Zhaohao Liang
Chubin Ou
author_facet Yunyi Liang
Congbi Liang
Jianping Yang
Wanhua Li
Runyi Liang
Kun Li
Jingfeng Zhang
Peiqiong Lao
Junhua Zhu
Lin An
Zhaohao Liang
Chubin Ou
author_sort Yunyi Liang
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe retina serves as a non-invasive window to visualize systemic health, with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enabling simultaneous assessment of retinal structural thickness and vascular density. Suboptimal cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health status, defined by the early stage of CKM syndrome, may impact retinal neurovascular integrity, yet comprehensive OCTA-based evaluations remain limited and controversial. This study aimed to investigate retinal structural and vascular alterations in the early-stage CKM using OCTA and explore its potential as a biomarker tool.MethodsA cross-sectional study included 2,153 participants undergoing OCTA during health checks (2023–2024). Early-stage CKM (stages 1–2) is characterized by abnormal levels of glucose, lipid profile, uric acid, or blood pressure. Retinal thickness and vessel density in nine ETDRS grid regions were measured. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified associations between early-stage CKM and OCTA parameters, adjusting for age and gender.ResultsEarly-stage CKM subjects (n = 1,843, 94.5%) exhibited significantly reduced retinal thickness and vessel density across multiple regions compared to healthy controls (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed outer temporal thickness (OR = 0.986, p < 0.001), outer superficial vessel density (OR = 1.04, p = 0.020), and inner superior vessel density (OR = 0.962, p = 0.010) as independent predictors of early-stage CKM, alongside age and gender. Specific abnormalities, such as hypertension and diabetes, were associated with distinct regional decreases in thickness and density, suggesting a dose-dependent impact of glycemic dysregulation on retinal health.ConclusionEarly-stage CKM syndrome is associated with subtle retinal structural and vascular alterations detectable by OCTA, particularly within the macular layers. OCTA-derived biomarkers, including outer temporal thickness and macular vessel density, may serve as non-invasive tools for evaluating systemic health status, offering promise for the early detection of metabolic and cardiovascular risks.
format Article
id doaj-art-3c6574a052d2404ca56bcbb4d373a2f3
institution Matheson Library
issn 2296-858X
language English
publishDate 2025-07-01
publisher Frontiers Media S.A.
record_format Article
series Frontiers in Medicine
spelling doaj-art-3c6574a052d2404ca56bcbb4d373a2f32025-07-04T05:17:38ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Medicine2296-858X2025-07-011210.3389/fmed.2025.16143211614321Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiographyYunyi Liang0Congbi Liang1Jianping Yang2Wanhua Li3Runyi Liang4Kun Li5Jingfeng Zhang6Peiqiong Lao7Junhua Zhu8Lin An9Zhaohao Liang10Chubin Ou11Health Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaHealth Management Center of The Sixth Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, South China University of Technology, Foshan, ChinaDepartment of Research and Development, Hangzhou Dianzi University, Hangzhou, ChinaFoshan Research Institute of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, Foshan, ChinaDepartment of Radiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital (Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences), Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, ChinaBackgroundThe retina serves as a non-invasive window to visualize systemic health, with optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) enabling simultaneous assessment of retinal structural thickness and vascular density. Suboptimal cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic (CKM) health status, defined by the early stage of CKM syndrome, may impact retinal neurovascular integrity, yet comprehensive OCTA-based evaluations remain limited and controversial. This study aimed to investigate retinal structural and vascular alterations in the early-stage CKM using OCTA and explore its potential as a biomarker tool.MethodsA cross-sectional study included 2,153 participants undergoing OCTA during health checks (2023–2024). Early-stage CKM (stages 1–2) is characterized by abnormal levels of glucose, lipid profile, uric acid, or blood pressure. Retinal thickness and vessel density in nine ETDRS grid regions were measured. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses identified associations between early-stage CKM and OCTA parameters, adjusting for age and gender.ResultsEarly-stage CKM subjects (n = 1,843, 94.5%) exhibited significantly reduced retinal thickness and vessel density across multiple regions compared to healthy controls (all p < 0.05). Multivariate analysis revealed outer temporal thickness (OR = 0.986, p < 0.001), outer superficial vessel density (OR = 1.04, p = 0.020), and inner superior vessel density (OR = 0.962, p = 0.010) as independent predictors of early-stage CKM, alongside age and gender. Specific abnormalities, such as hypertension and diabetes, were associated with distinct regional decreases in thickness and density, suggesting a dose-dependent impact of glycemic dysregulation on retinal health.ConclusionEarly-stage CKM syndrome is associated with subtle retinal structural and vascular alterations detectable by OCTA, particularly within the macular layers. OCTA-derived biomarkers, including outer temporal thickness and macular vessel density, may serve as non-invasive tools for evaluating systemic health status, offering promise for the early detection of metabolic and cardiovascular risks.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1614321/fullcardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndromeoptical coherence tomography angiographybiomarkerretinal thicknessvessel density (VD)
spellingShingle Yunyi Liang
Congbi Liang
Jianping Yang
Wanhua Li
Runyi Liang
Kun Li
Jingfeng Zhang
Peiqiong Lao
Junhua Zhu
Lin An
Zhaohao Liang
Chubin Ou
Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
Frontiers in Medicine
cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome
optical coherence tomography angiography
biomarker
retinal thickness
vessel density (VD)
title Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
title_full Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
title_fullStr Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
title_full_unstemmed Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
title_short Investigation of early-stage cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
title_sort investigation of early stage cardiovascular kidney metabolic syndrome on retinal structure and function evaluated by optical coherence tomography angiography
topic cardiovascular-kidney-metabolic syndrome
optical coherence tomography angiography
biomarker
retinal thickness
vessel density (VD)
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fmed.2025.1614321/full
work_keys_str_mv AT yunyiliang investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT congbiliang investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT jianpingyang investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT wanhuali investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT runyiliang investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT kunli investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT jingfengzhang investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT peiqionglao investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT junhuazhu investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT linan investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT zhaohaoliang investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography
AT chubinou investigationofearlystagecardiovascularkidneymetabolicsyndromeonretinalstructureandfunctionevaluatedbyopticalcoherencetomographyangiography