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Volume 14
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10.3390/jcm14217857
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This is an early access version, the complete PDF, HTML, and XML versions will be available soon.
Article

Relationship Between Retinal Vascular Measurements and Anthropometric Indices in Patients Diagnosed with Persistent COVID-19

by
Rosario Alonso-Domínguez
1,*,
Teresa Vicente-García
1,
Silvia Arroyo-Romero
2,3,
Nuria Suárez-Moreno
2,3,
Alicia Navarro-Cáceres
2,3,
Andrea Domínguez-Martín
2,3,
Leticia Gómez-Sánchez
4,
Cristina Lugones-Sánchez
1,2,3,5,
Luis García-Ortiz
2,3,5,6,
Alicia Ortega
7,8,
Marta Gómez-Sánchez
9,
Elena Navarro-Matias
2,3,5 and
Manuel A. Gómez-Marcos
2,3,5,10
1
Facultad de Enfermería y Fisioterapia; Universidad de Salamanca. Avenida Donantes de Sangre s/n, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
2
Primary Care Research Unit of Salamanca (APISAL), Institute of Biomedical Research of Salamanca (IBSAL), 37005 Salamanca, Spain
3
Castilla and León Health Service-SACYL, Regional Health Management, 37005 Salamanca, Spain
4
Emergency Service, University Hospital of La Paz P. of Castellana, 261, 28046 Madrid, Spain
5
Research Network on Chronicity, Primary Care and Health Promotion (RICAPPS), 37005 Salamanca, Spain
6
Department of Biomedical and Diagnostic Sciences, University of Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
7
CIBER of Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Institute of Health Carlos III, 28029 Madrid, Spain
8
Group for Biomedical Research in Respiratory Infection & Sepsis (BioSepsis), Instituto de Investigación Biomédica de Salamanca (IBSAL), Gerencia Regional de Salud de Castilla y León, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
9
Home Hospitalization Service, Marques of Valdecilla University Hospital, s/n, 39008 Santander, Spain
10
Department of Medicine, University of Salamanca, 37008 Salamanca, Spain
*
Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14(21), 7857; https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217857
Submission received: 30 September 2025 / Revised: 30 October 2025 / Accepted: 1 November 2025 / Published: 5 November 2025
(This article belongs to the Special Issue New Advances in Retinal Diseases)
Review Reports Versions Notes

Abstract

Introduction: Persistent COVID-19 is associated with microvascular dysfunction, with retinal vessels as potential early biomarkers. Obesity, particularly visceral adiposity, contributes to this dysfunction; however, the body mass index (BMI) is limited in its ability to assess it. Therefore, more precise alternative anthropometric indices have been proposed, although their relationship with retinal vascular caliber in persistent COVID-19 has not been studied. Objective: To analyze the relationship between different anthropometric measurements and the caliber of retinal vessels in an adult population with persistent COVID-19. Materials and Methods: This was an observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study and included individuals diagnosed with persistent COVID-19. Retinal images were obtained using a non-mydriatic retinograph. The anthropometric variables used included: waist and hip circumference, BMI, waist-to-height ratio (WHtR), Body Roundness Index (BRI), Abdominal Volume Index (AVI), and body composition parameters measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis. Results: The sample included 284 participants (mean age: 52.7 years; 31.8% men). Men exhibited greater general and abdominal adiposity. The AV Index was negatively associated with various anthropometric indicators (BMI, BRI, waist circumference, and AVI), while venular caliber showed positive associations with all these indices, except for BMI (p < 0.05 for all). No significant correlations were found between anthropometric values and arteriolar caliber. These associations persisted after adjusting for age, sex, and pharmacological treatment. Conclusions: Individuals with obesity are associated with alterations in retinal vessels in patients with persistent COVID-19, evidenced by an increase in venous caliber and a decrease in the AV Index. However, these findings should be interpreted cautiously.
Keywords: obesity; microvessels; retina; post-acute COVID-19 syndrome obesity; microvessels; retina; post-acute COVID-19 syndrome

Share and Cite

MDPI and ACS Style

Alonso-Domínguez, R.; Vicente-García, T.; Arroyo-Romero, S.; Suárez-Moreno, N.; Navarro-Cáceres, A.; Domínguez-Martín, A.; Gómez-Sánchez, L.; Lugones-Sánchez, C.; García-Ortiz, L.; Ortega, A.; et al. Relationship Between Retinal Vascular Measurements and Anthropometric Indices in Patients Diagnosed with Persistent COVID-19. J. Clin. Med. 2025, 14, 7857. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217857

AMA Style

Alonso-Domínguez R, Vicente-García T, Arroyo-Romero S, Suárez-Moreno N, Navarro-Cáceres A, Domínguez-Martín A, Gómez-Sánchez L, Lugones-Sánchez C, García-Ortiz L, Ortega A, et al. Relationship Between Retinal Vascular Measurements and Anthropometric Indices in Patients Diagnosed with Persistent COVID-19. Journal of Clinical Medicine. 2025; 14(21):7857. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217857

Chicago/Turabian Style

Alonso-Domínguez, Rosario, Teresa Vicente-García, Silvia Arroyo-Romero, Nuria Suárez-Moreno, Alicia Navarro-Cáceres, Andrea Domínguez-Martín, Leticia Gómez-Sánchez, Cristina Lugones-Sánchez, Luis García-Ortiz, Alicia Ortega, and et al. 2025. "Relationship Between Retinal Vascular Measurements and Anthropometric Indices in Patients Diagnosed with Persistent COVID-19" Journal of Clinical Medicine 14, no. 21: 7857. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217857

APA Style

Alonso-Domínguez, R., Vicente-García, T., Arroyo-Romero, S., Suárez-Moreno, N., Navarro-Cáceres, A., Domínguez-Martín, A., Gómez-Sánchez, L., Lugones-Sánchez, C., García-Ortiz, L., Ortega, A., Gómez-Sánchez, M., Navarro-Matias, E., & Gómez-Marcos, M. A. (2025). Relationship Between Retinal Vascular Measurements and Anthropometric Indices in Patients Diagnosed with Persistent COVID-19. Journal of Clinical Medicine, 14(21), 7857. https://doi.org/10.3390/jcm14217857

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