Highlights
- •Physical activity and OCT variables were measured in persons with MS.
- •Physical activity was associated with OCT variables persons with MS.
- •This association was independent of clinical and demographic covariates.
Abstract
Purpose
To examine the associations among objectively-measured physical activity with the
optical coherence tomography (OCT) metrics of retinal nerve fiber layer (RNFL) thickness
and total macular volume (TMV) in persons with multiple sclerosis (MS).
Methods
Eighty four participants with MS, without ocular disease or high myopia underwent
a neurological examination for Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scoring, followed
by OCT. Participants then wore an accelerometer during the waking hours of a 7-day
period to objectively measure physical activity as steps/day.
Results
Mean RNFL thickness for the sample was 91.46 μm (SD=15.0), and mean TMV was 6.61 mm3 (SD=0.5). The mean score from the accelerometer was 4287 steps/day (SD=2563). Steps/day
was significantly associated with both RNFL thickness (Wald χ2=46.48, p<0.001) and TMV (Wald χ2=1798.27, p<0.001). After controlling for sex, MS subtype, disease duration, disability, and
visual function, steps/day was significantly associated with TMV (Wald χ2=58.93, p<0.001), but not RNFL (Wald χ2=0.001, p=0.973).
Conclusions
Physical activity was associated with integrity of the anterior visual pathway, assessed
by OCT, in persons with MS, and this association was independent of sex, MS subtype,
disease duration, disability, and visual function. Researchers should consider examining
the causal nature of the association between physical activity and markers of the
visual system in MS.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: July 29, 2013
Accepted:
June 27,
2013
Received in revised form:
May 22,
2013
Received:
March 25,
2013
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 Elsevier B.V. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
