title: Association between physical activity and retinal microvascular signs: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To examine the association between physical activity measured during leisure, sport, and work and retinal microvascular signs.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants of the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, a population-based cross-sectional study, had retinal photographs taken at their third follow up visit (1993-1995). Retinal microvascular signs were assessed using a standardized protocol and retinal vascular caliber by a computer-assisted method. Leisure, sport, and work-related physical activity levels were determined through a modified Baecke physical activity questionnaire.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A higher level of physical activity during sport and work was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of arteriovenous (AV) nicking, wider venular caliber, and retinopathy. In multivariate models, persons with a level of sport-related physical activity above the median were less likely to have AV nicking (odds ratio [OR] = 0.87; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-0.97) and wider retinal venules (OR = 0.91; 95% CI: 0.83-0.99). Persons with a level of work-related physical activity above the median were less likely to have diabetic retinopathy (OR = 0.66, 95% CI: 0.51-0.85).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In this cross-sectional analyzes, higher levels of physical activity was associated with a lower prevalence of retinal microvascular abnormalities.
authors.affiliation: Murdoch Children's Research Institute, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors.forename: Gabriella
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tikellis
authors.forename: Satyamurthy
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Anuradha
authors.forename: Ronald
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Klein
authors.forename: Tien Yin
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Wong
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005451:Fluorescein Angiography; D006801:Humans; D007899:Leisure Activities; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009043:Motor Activity / Q000502:physiology*; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013177:Sports; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D014937:Work