Relationship between anthropometric indices and macular optical coherence tomography angiography in healthy adults from the PERSIAN cohort study

To evaluate the association between optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) measured macular vessel density (VD) and fovea avascular zone (FAZ) parameters and several body composition parameters and anthropometric indices, using data from a large population-based cohort of seemingly healthy adults. A cross-sectional observational study utilized data from 424 participants in the PERSIAN Cohort Study. OCTA scans, with dimensions of 3 × 3 mm and 6 × 6 mm, were employed to assess macular VD in the superficial capillary plexus (SCP), deep capillary plexus (DCP), and parameters of the FAZ. Body composition was evaluated through bio-impedance analysis with the InBody 770 analyzer. The relationships between OCTA metrics and anthropometric indices were analyzed using multiple regression and correlation techniques with false discovery rate correction. The study population had a mean age of 39.3 ± 7.7 years, with 47% identifying as male. The results indicated that males displayed higher SCP VD at the fovea. A noteworthy positive correlation was found between foveal SCP VD and factors such as skeletal muscle mass, basal metabolic rate, and waist-hip ratio. In contrast, the whole-image DCP VD and FAZ areas were negatively correlated with total body water, fat-free mass, and muscle mass. The findings suggest that macular microvasculature is influenced by age, sex, and various anthropometric characteristics. These results highlight the potential of OCTA in evaluating systemic health and vascular status through retinal imaging. Further research is needed to investigate these findings’ underlying mechanisms and clinical applications.