Design and baseline data of a population-based metabonomics study of eye diseases in eastern China: the Yueqing Ocular Diseases Investigation

Abstract

Background: China is undergoing a massive transition toward an urban and industrial economy. These changes will restructure the demographics and economy which will eventually influence the future patterns of disease. The risk factors of vision-impairing eye diseases remain ambiguous and poorly understood. Metabolomics is an ideal tool to understand and shed light on the ocular disease mechanisms for earlier treatment. This article aims to describe the design, methodology and baseline data of the Yueqing Ocular Diseases Investigation (YODI), a developed county population-based study to determine the prevalence and primary causes of visual impairment; also with metabonomics analysis we aimed to identify, predict and suggest some preventive biomarkers that cause blindness. Methods: A population-based, cross-sectional study. Randomized clustering sampling was used to identify adults aged 50 years and older in Xiangyang Town, Yueqing county-level City. The interviews covered demographic, behavioral, ocular risk factors and mental health state. The ocular examination included visual acuity, autorefraction, intraocular pressure, anterior and posterior segment examinations, fundus photography, retinal tomography and angiography, and visual field testing. Anthropometric measurements included height and weight, waist and hip circumference, blood pressure, pulse rate, electrocardiogram, and abdominal ultrasound scan. A venous blood sample was collected for laboratory tests and metabonomics studies. Results: Of the 5319 individuals recruited for the YODI, 4769 (89.7%) subjects were enrolled for analyses. The median age was 62.0 years, and 45.6% were male. The educational level of illiteracy or semi-illiteracy, primary, middle and high school or above was 29.8%, 45.5%, 20.1%, and 3.3%, respectively. Majority of the participants were female, younger, and less educated when compared with nonparticipants. The average body mass index and waist-hip ratios were 24.4 ± 3.4 kg/m 2 and 0.9 ± 0.1 respectively. Blood sample collection reached a sample size of 1909 (479 from subjects with selfreported diabetes and 1430 from one-third of the 4290 subjects without self-reported diabetes). Conclusions: The YODI provides population-based data with a high response rate (89.7%) on the prevalence and primary causes of major vision-impairing eye diseases in developed county areas in eastern China. Metabonomics analysis from YODI will provide further association of metabolic characteristics with the visual impairment eye diseases. The risk prediction model could be created and has the potential to be generalized to developed eastern areas in China for prevention.

The Jidong Eye Cohort Study: objectives, design, and baseline characteristics

“…The participant baseline characteristics and ocular characteristics were reported. Compared with several existing population-based cohorts, [29][30][31][32][33][34][35][36][37] the JECS is a unique and high-quality study focusing on ocular assessment along with comprehensive etiological evaluation, imaging and biomarker collection, providing the opportunity to identify risk factors, imaging and biomarkers of visual impairment (either ocular vascular anomalies or optic nerve degeneration) and to evaluate their associations with CVD and neurological diseases. Data from the JECS will provide evidence to formulate recommendations for optimal practice not only in visual impairment precaution but also in CVD and neurological diseases prevention (eye as a window) in subsequent phases.…”

Epidemiology, health policy and public health implications of visual impairment and age-related eye diseases in mainland China

“…Furthermore, many new and ongoing studies have been conducted over recent years, which have provided information and interesting patterns relating to age-related eye diseases in mainland China. These previous findings imply that an update concerning the health care of patients with age-related eye diseases is still necessary ( 4 , 13 , 14 ). Furthermore, understanding this epidemic evidence may provide invaluable insights into the progress of ophthalmic epidemiological research in mainland China which will hopefully be instrumental for public health and health services.…”

Metabolite Changes in the Aqueous Humor of Patients With Retinal Vein Occlusion Macular Edema: A Metabolomics Analysis

“…Abundant metabolomics studies have been carried out in animal models or humans under pathophysiological conditions to identify the most important metabolites in various ophthalmic diseases by analyzing blood or intraocular fluid samples ( Deng et al, 2020 ). Aqueous humor (AH) provides nutrition for the surrounding avascular cornea and lens and discharges the metabolic waste from the eyes to the venous blood.…”