Relationship between Clinical Features of Diabetic Retinopathy and Systemic Factors in Patients with Newly Diagnosed Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Prevalence and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes: an observational study of 77 681 patients from the Swedish National Diabetes Registry

INTRODUCTION

To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in persons with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes (T2D) to understand the potential need for intensified screening for early detection of T2D.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

Individuals from the Swedish National Diabetes Registry with a retinal photo <2 years after diagnosis of T2D were included. The proportion of patients with retinopathy (simplex or worse) was assessed. Patient characteristics and risk factors at diagnosis were analyzed in relation to DR with logistic regression.

RESULTS

In total, 77 681 individuals with newly diagnosed T2D, mean age 62.6 years, 41.1% females were included. Of these, 13 329 (17.2%) had DR.DR was more common in older persons (adjusted OR 1.03 per 10-year increase, 95% CI 1.01 to 1.05) and men compared with women, OR 1.10 (1.05 to 1.14). Other variables associated with DR were OR (95% CI): lower education 1.08 (1.02 to 1.14); previous stroke 1.18 (1.07 to 1.30); chronic kidney disease 1.29 (1.07 to 1.56); treatment with acetylsalicylic acid 1.14 (1.07 to 1.21); ACE inhibitors 1.12 (1.05 to 1.19); and alpha blockers 1.41 (1.15 to 1.73). DR was more common in individuals born in Asia (OR 1.16, 95% CI 1.08 to 1.25) and European countries other than those born in Sweden (OR 1.11, 95% CI 1.05 to 1.18).

CONCLUSIONS

Intensified focus on screening of T2D may be needed in Sweden in clinical practice since nearly one-fifth of persons have retinopathy at diagnosis of T2D. The prevalence of DR was higher in men, birthplace outside of Sweden, and those with a history of stroke, kidney disease, and hypertension.

[Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy assessed using two-field mydriatic fundus photography]

Early detection of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is an urgent ophthalmological problem in Russia and globally.

PURPOSE

This study assesses the prevalence of asymptomatic retinopathy and attempts to identify risk groups for its development in patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (T1DM and T2DM).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

The study involved clinics from 5 cities in the Russian Federation and it included 367 patients with DM, 34.88% men and 65.12% women, aged 50.88±20.55 years. 34.88% of patients suffered from T1DM, 65.12% suffered from T2DM, the average duration of the disease was 9.02±7.22 years. 58.31% of patients had a history of arterial hypertension, 13.08% had a history of smoking. The primary endpoint was the frequency of detection of diabetic changes in the eye fundus of patients with T1DM and T2DM in general; the secondary endpoint - same but separately, and for T2DM patients depending on the duration of the disease. The exploratory endpoint was the assessment of the influence of various factors on the development of DR. The patients underwent visometry (modified ETDRS table), biomicroscopy, mydriatic fundus photography according to the «2 fields» protocol.

RESULTS

The average detection rate of DR was 12.26%, primarily observed in patients with T2DM (13.81%), women (9.26%), in both eyes (8.17%). Among patients with DR, 26 (19.55%) had glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level exceeding 7.5% (p=0.002), indicating a direct relationship between this indicator and the incidence of DR. Logistic regression analysis showed that the duration of diabetes of more than 10 years has a statistically significant effect on the development of DR. In the modified model for odds estimation, the likelihood of developing DR is increased by the duration of DM for more than 10 years; increased blood pressure; HbA1c level >7.5%.

CONCLUSION

The obtained results, some of which will be presented in subsequent publications, highlight the effectiveness of using two-field mydriatic fundus photography as a screening for DR.

Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy in Chinese Patients with Different Diabetes Duration: Association of C-Peptide and BUN/Cr Ratio with Type 2 Diabetic Retinopathy

Background and Aim

Controlling the risk factors was the most effective strategy to prevent diabetic retinopathy (DR). This study aimed to recognize the risk factors of DR, and explores whether the effect of those factors is modified by diabetes mellitus (DM) duration.

Methods

A total of 1058 DM patients with information about DR assessment were included. DR was measured by a complete ophthalmic examination and was classified as having one or more distinct microaneurysms in the eyes. Data from the lab and clinical factors were gathered. Multivariate logistic analysis was used to examine the risk factors, and the best-fitting model was selected by a backward stepwise based on A1C.

Results

In the current study, 274 (25.9%) patients developed DR. In the entire subjects, baseline age, the level of C-peptide, and urinary creatinine were all presented as protective effects of DR, whose odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were 0.79 (0.62, 0.99), 0.75 (0.61, 0.91), and 0.70 (0.52, 0.93), respectively. Conversely, systolic pressure (SBP), urinary albumin, and BUN/Cr ratio were the important risk factors for DR with ORs (95% CIs) 1.21 (1.01, 1.46), 1.55 (1.30, 1.84), and 1.33 (1.11, 1.59), respectively. In stratification analysis, females with higher SBP would be more likely to develop DR in the short-duration group, while C-peptide and urinary creatinine showed protective effects in the long-duration group. BUN/Cr ratio all presented as a risk factor, with ORs 1.38 (p = 0.041) and 1.33 (p = 0.014) in short- and long-duration groups, respectively.

Conclusion

Although renal functions presented a significant association with DR in all DM patients, the risk factors of DR varied widely in different disease-duration subjects. Target strategies to prevent DR should be put forward individually, considering the patient's DM duration. Improving the BUN/Cr ratio may be beneficial to delaying DR.

Risk of diabetic retinopathy and retinal neurodegeneration in individuals with type 2 diabetes: Beichen Eye Study

Objective

Our aim was to evaluate associations of different risk factors with odds of diabetic retinopathy (DR) diagnosis and retinal neurodegeneration represented by macular ganglion cell-inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL).

Methods

This cross-sectional study analyzed data from individuals aged over 50 years examined between June 2020 and February 2022 in the community-based Beichen Eye Study on ocular diseases. Baseline characteristics included demographic data, cardiometabolic risk factors, laboratory findings, and medications at enrollment. Retinal thickness in both eyes of all participants was measured automatically via optical coherence tomography. Risk factors associated with DR status were investigated using multivariable logistic regression. Multivariable linear regression analysis was performed to explore associations of potential risk factors with mGCIPL thickness.

Results

Among the 5037 included participants with a mean (standard deviation, SD) age of 62.6 (6.7) years (3258 women [64.6%]), 4018 (79.8%) were control individuals, 835 (16.6%) were diabetic individuals with no DR, and 184 (3.7%) were diabetic individuals with DR. The risk factors significantly associated with DR status were family history of diabetes (odds ratio [OR], 4.09 [95% CI, 2.44-6.85]), fasting plasma glucose (OR, 5.88 [95% CI, 4.66-7.43]), and statins (OR, 2.13 [95% CI, 1.03-4.43]) relative to the control individuals. Compared with the no DR, diabetes duration (OR, 1.17 [95% CI, 1.13-1.22]), hypertension (OR, 1.60 [95% CI, 1.26-2.45]), and glycated hemoglobin A1C (HbA1c) (OR, 1.27 [95% CI, 1.00-1.59]) were significantly correlated with DR status. Furthermore, age (adjusted β = -0.19 [95% CI, -0.25 to -0.13] μm; P < 0.001), cardiovascular events (adjusted β = -0.95 [95% CI, -1.78 to -0.12] μm; P = 0.03), and axial length (adjusted β = -0.82 [95% CI, -1.29 to -0.35] μm; P = 0.001) were associated with mGCIPL thinning in diabetic individuals with no DR.

Conclusion

Multiple risk factors were associated with higher odds of DR development and lower mGCIPL thickness in our study. Risk factors affecting DR status varied among the different study populations. Age, cardiovascular events, and axial length were identified as potential risk factors for consideration in relation to retinal neurodegeneration in diabetic patients.

Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes: A systematic review and meta-analysis

AIMS

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) can remain undiagnosed for many years, during which micro- and macro-vascular complications may develop. This study aimed to assess the worldwide prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We systematically searched electronic databases for relevant studies published from inception to 01 January 2022. Selected studies reported the prevalence of DR among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM, specifying the case definition used. Random-effects meta-analysis was used to derive the pooled prevalence. Subgroup and meta-regression analyses were used to investigate variations in the prevalence estimates in terms of available variables.

RESULTS

Data from 77 studies including 99,847 patients with newly diagnosed T2DM were included from 26 countries. The pooled prevalence of DR among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM was 13.1% (95% CI, 11.1%-15.1%; I²  = 97.0%). DR was higher in clinic-based samples compared with community-based samples (15.0%, 95% CI = 12.4%-17.8% vs. 11.5%, 95% CI = 8.9%-14.5%; p = 0.05; I²  = 97.0%) and was higher in countries in the WHO African 19.2% (95% CI, 14.6%-24.3%; I²  = 76.0%), South-East Asia 15.4% (95% CI, 10.0%-21.6%; I²  = 79.1%), and European 15.0% (95% CI, 11.2%-19.2%; I²  = 82.0%) regions. A higher proportion of female patients was significantly associated with a lower prevalence of DR in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM. We observed that the prevalence of DR in patients with newly diagnosed T2DM has remained unchanged over time.

CONCLUSIONS

Globally, DR is a prevalent complication among patients with newly diagnosed T2DM indicating the importance of establishing effective strategies to promote regular screening for the early diagnosis of T2DM alongside routine ophthalmic assessment at the time of T2DM diagnosis to reduce the burden of vision-threatening retinopathy.

Early Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in Newly Diagnosed Type 2 Diabetes and Its Effectiveness in Terms of Morbidity and Clinical Treatment: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort

PURPOSE

To characterize the association between the frequency of screening for diabetic retinopathy (DR) and the detection of DR in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

METHODS

This nationwide population-based cohort study used data from the National Health Insurance Research Database to identify adult patients who were newly diagnosed with T2DM between 2000 and 2004. Data from their follow-up Diabetic retinopathy (DR) treatments over the next 10 years following diagnosis were also analyzed.

RESULTS

The 41,522 subjects were respectively assigned to a periodic screening group (n = 3850) and nonperiodic screening group (n = 37,672). Significant differences were observed between the two groups in terms of age, Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI), sex, DR treatment, and the prevalence of DR. The association between periodic screening and DR treatment, only the elderly, female, and patient with severe CCI status showed the significance in the further stratified analysis.

CONCLUSION

Periodic screening (annual or biannual screening in the first 5 years) was more effective than nonperiodic screening in detecting instances of DR in the middle-to-advanced aged group but not among younger patients. Screening pattern did not have a significant effect on the likelihood of DR-related treatment during the 5-year follow-up. It appears that a tight screening schedule for the first 5 years after diagnosis with diabetes is not necessary.