Association of Birth Weight with Peripapillary Retinal Nerve Fiber Layer Thickness in Adulthood-Results from a Population-Based Study.
Fieß Achim, Nickels Stefan, Urschitz Michael S, Münzel Thomas, Wild Philipp S, Beutel Manfred E, Lackner Karl J, Hoffmann Esther M, Pfeiffer Norbert, Schuster Alexander K
AI Summary
This study found a weak but significant association between higher birth weight and thicker adult retinal nerve fiber layer, especially inferiorly, suggesting early life factors may influence optic nerve development and disease risk.
Abstract
Purpose
Low birth weight is associated with altered retinal development in childhood, including reduced peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness. However, to the best of our knowledge, no population-based study has analyzed the relationship of low birth weight to pRNFL thickness in adulthood. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether birth weight has a long-term effect on pRNFL thickness in adulthood.
Methods
In the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study (GHS), participants were examined with spectral-domain optical coherence tomography using a peripapillary scan and automated measurement of pRNFL thickness as a global parameter and in six sectors. The association between self-reported birth weight and the different pRNFL sectors were analyzed with multivariable linear regression, adjusted for potential confounders including sex, age, axial length, self-reported age-related macular degeneration, and glaucoma.
Results
In 3,028 participants, self-reported birth weight was documented and pRNFL measurements were successfully performed (1632 females, ages 54.9 ± 10.0 years). After adjustment for several confounders in the multivariable model, a positive association was observed between birth weight and pRNFL thickness in the global sector (β = 0.13 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.08-0.18; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.007) and especially in the inferotemporal sector (β = 0.22 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.15-0.29; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.008) and inferonasal sector (β = 0.28 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.17-0.39; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.005).
Conclusions
Our data show that there is a weak relationship between birth weight and pRNFL thickness in adulthood. This weak association is particularly present in the inferior part of the optic nerve head. Therefore, low birth weight may have an impact on optic nerve head development and potentially on ocular disease development.
Shields Classification
Key Concepts5
A positive association was observed between birth weight and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the global sector (β = 0.13 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.08-0.18; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.007) in 3,028 adult participants from the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study.
A positive association was observed between birth weight and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the inferotemporal sector (β = 0.22 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.15-0.29; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.008) in 3,028 adult participants from the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study.
A positive association was observed between birth weight and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in the inferonasal sector (β = 0.28 µm/100 g; 95% CI, 0.17-0.39; P < 0.001; R2 = 0.005) in 3,028 adult participants from the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study.
A weak relationship exists between birth weight and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in adulthood, particularly in the inferior part of the optic nerve head, based on data from 3,028 participants in the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study.
Low birth weight may have an impact on optic nerve head development and potentially on ocular disease development, as suggested by a weak association between birth weight and peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer (pRNFL) thickness in adulthood observed in 3,028 participants from the German population-based Gutenberg Health Study.
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