The relationship between vertical cup–disc ratio and body mass index in a population of adult Saudi females

Purpose: The vertical cup–disc (C/D) ratio is useful clinically in optic-disc assessment in glaucoma suspects and diagnosing glaucomas and is thought to also be influenced by many ocular and systemic factors. The body mass index (BMI) is said to be an important parameter which influences vertical C/D ratio and different studies have shown different correlation between these two variables. The aim of the study was to assess the relationship of vertical C/D ratio with BMI in a population of Saudi adult females. Methods: One hundred and one female participants in the age group 18 to 40 years were included in a cross-sectional study after obtaining information regarding demographic data, ocular/systemic diseases, and surgeries by an oral interview. The BMI was calculated as ratio of body weight divided by the square of the body height. C/D ratio was recorded with direct ophthalmoscopic examination and examination with 90-D (Volk) lens. Analysis of variance was used to examine the BMI on vertical C/D ratio. A P-value <0.05 was considered to be statistically significant with confidence interval of 95%. Results: The mean BMI was 22.7 (±4.49) and the mean C/D ratio was 0.22 (±0.14). No significant relationship between increasing vertical C/D ratio and BMI P-value 0.154 was found. Conclusion: This study, conducted as a pilot study to investigate the relationship between C/D ratio and BMI in a young female Saudi population, found no significant relationship between vertical C/D ratio and BMI. This relationship is important as it helps to rule out effect of BMI on C/D ratio parameters in this population.