Cardiorespiratory fitness, retinal vessel diameters and rheumatic diseases

BackgroundRheumatic patients have an increased cardiovascular (CV) risk, which is associated with retinal vessel alterations. Classical CV risk factors cannot explain the increased CV risk and the associated retinal vessel alterations completely. However, disease-specific inflammation assumes a crucial role within this context. Cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and physical activity (PA) beneficially affect CV risk and retinal vessels.ObjectiveThe study investigated the relationship between CRF, PA and retinal vessels in cardiovascular healthy rheumatic patients.MethodsCentral retinal arteriolar equivalent (CRAE), central retinal venular equivalent (CRVE) and arteriolar-to-venular ratio (AVR) were determined using a static retinal vessel analyser to examine the retinal microcirculation. CRF was assessed by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak) during a cycle spiroergometry. PA was assessed by questionnaire. The influence of CRF and PA on retinal vessels was analysed using multiple linear regressions adjusted for age and sex.Results28 rheumatic patients were analysed. In contrast to our assumptions, VO2peak seemed to affect CRAE negatively (coefficient -3.221 μm, 95% confidence interval (CI) -5.806; -0.637, p = 0.017) and had no influence on CRVE and AVR. CRVE decreased and AVR increased the more time patients spent in sport activities and total PA, respectively.ConclusionsObjectively measured CRF seemed to influence retinal vessels contrary to our expectations. Subjectively assessed PA parameters indicated a beneficial influence of PA on retinal vessels and CV risk in rheumatic patients. Longitudinal and cross-over studies with large sample sizes are needed to investigate the relationship between CRF, PA and retinal vessels in rheumatic patients further.