Association between localized retinal nerve fibre layer defects and metabolic syndrome in nonglaucomatous eyes: A propensity score‐matched analysis

Abstract

Aims/Purpose: To investigate the association between metabolic syndrome and localized retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL) defects in nonglaucomatous subjects.Methods: We examined 20 385 adults at the Health Promotion Center in Seoul St. Mary's Hospital between May 2015 and April 2016. Subjects with and without localized RNFL defects were 1:5 propensity score matched. Metabolic syndrome components, central obesity, elevated triglyceride, reduced HDL cholesterol, elevated blood pressure and elevated fasting glucose, were compared between two groups. Logistic regression was performed to investigate the association between RNFL defects and each metabolic syndrome component as well as the number of metabolic syndrome components.Results: Subjects with RNFL defects showed higher waist to hip ratio, systolic and diastolic BP, fasting blood glucose and HbA1c compared to those without RNFL defects before and after propensity score matching. The number of metabolic syndrome components was significantly greater in those with RNFL defects (1.66 ± 1.35) compared to those without (1.27 ± 1.32, p < 0.01). In multivariate logistic regression, the odds of RNFL defects were significantly increased in subjects with central obesity (OR = 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.11–2.13), elevated blood pressure (OR = 1.50, 95% CI = 1.09–2.05), and elevated fasting glucose (OR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.03–1.97). Greater number of metabolic syndrome components was associated with higher odds of RNFL defects.Conclusions: The presence of localized RNFL defects in nonglaucomatous subjects is associated with metabolic syndrome components, including central obesity, elevated BP and elevated fasting glucose, suggesting that comorbid metabolic syndromes should be considered when evaluating subjects with RNFL defects.