Retinal thickness analysis by race, gender, and age using Stratus OCT.
OBJECTIVE
To detect differences in retinal thickness among patients of different race, gender, and age using Stratus OCT.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
In a multicenter, university-based study, 126 patients with no history of ocular disease were enrolled (78 diabetics without retinopathy and 48 nondiabetics). Optical coherence tomography measurements were performed using Stratus OCT. Statistical comparisons of center point foveal thickness and mean foveal thickness were made using generalized estimating equations adjusting for diabetic status, race, age, and gender.


RESULTS
The study population consisted of 36% male subjects, 39% Caucasian, 33% African-American, and 28% Hispanic. Mean foveal thickness was 191.6 +/- 2.7 microm and 194.5 +/- 2.7 microm for diabetics and nondiabetics, respectively (P = .49). Mean foveal thickness in male subjects was significantly larger than in female (201.8 +/- 2.7 microm and 186.9 +/- 2.6 microm, respectively; P < .001). Mean foveal thickness was 200.2 +/- 2.7 microm for Caucasian, 181.0 +/- 3.7 microm for African-American, and 194.7 +/- 3.9 microm for Hispanic subjects. Mean foveal thickness was significantly less for African-American than Caucasian (P < .0001) or Hispanic subjects (P = .005). Center point foveal thickness and mean foveal thickness showed a significant increase with age.


CONCLUSIONS
There are statistically significant differences in retinal thickness between subjects of different race, gender, and age. When compared to Caucasian and Hispanic subjects, African-American race is a predictor of decreased mean foveal thickness; and male sex (regardless of race) is a significant predictor of increased mean foveal thickness. Mean foveal thickness is similar among diabetics and nondiabetics when data are controlled for age, race, and sex. These results suggest that studies comparing OCT measurements should carefully control for age-based, race-based, and gender-based variations in retinal thickness.
Kashani
Amir H
AH
Wilmer Eye Institute and Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland 21287, USA.
Zimmer-Galler
Ingrid E
IE
Shah
Syed Mahmood
SM
Dustin
Laurie
L
Do
Diana V
DV
Eliott
Dean
D
Haller
Julia A
JA
Nguyen
Quan Dong
QD
D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000208:ethnology*; D000367:Age Factors; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012160:Retina / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D041623:Tomography, Optical Coherence; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*