Titel | Fractal dimension of the retinal vasculature: age-related evolution in the general population |
Doel | To investigate the age-related evolution of the fractal dimension (FD) of the retinal vascular network in a large cohort of healthy individuals with a wide age range. |
Methodes | A total of 838 disc-centered fundus images of 838 individuals (53% female and 47% male) were collected, aiming at approximately 100 subjects in every 10-year age group between 0 and 99 years. IFLEXIS, software for semi-automated retinal vessel analysis, was used for vessel segmentation and retinal vascular fractal analysis, using the box counting method. The region of interest (ROI) was the annulus between 1.5 and 5 times the radius of the optic disc, centered on the optic disc. |
Resultaten | A mean FD of 1.399 (± 0.038) was observed. A decreasing FD of the retinal vasculature was observed with aging , which was statistically significant (p < 0,0005). The mean values (± SD) of the FD per age group were 1.452 (± 0.045) in 0-9 years old, 1.421 (± 0.041) in 10-19 years, 1.399 (± 0.031) in 20-29 years, 1.396 (± 0.029) in 30-39 years, 1.395 (± 0.032) in 40-49 years, 1.393 (± 0.031) in 50-59 years, 1.387 (± 0.031) in 60-69 years, 1.389 (± 0.031) in 70-79 years, 1.383 (± 0.031) in 80-89 years and 1.370 (± 0.025) in the 90-99 years age group. FD was not significantly correlated with gender. |
Conclusie | This study demonstrates that the retinal vasculature undergoes age-related rarefaction with age, which is already detectable at a young age. |
Belangenverstrengeling | Nee |
Naam | LEMMENS |
Initialen | S |
Instituut | KU Leuven, UZ Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |
Naam | Landtmeters |
Initialen | C |
Instituut | KU Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |
Naam | Peeters |
Initialen | R |
Instituut | KU Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |
Naam | Simons |
Initialen | AS |
Instituut | KU Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |
Naam | Vercauteren |
Initialen | J |
Instituut | KU Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |
Naam | Van Keer |
Initialen | K |
Instituut | KU Leuven, UZ Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |
Naam | De Boever |
Initialen | P |
Instituut | VITO |
Stad | Mol |
Naam | Stalmans |
Initialen | I |
Instituut | KU Leuven, UZ Leuven |
Stad | Leuven |