IMPORTANCE

Total serum and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol have been considered risk factors for severe vascular outcomes in persons with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

OBJECTIVE

To examine the long-term relationships between these 2 serum lipids and the incidence and prevalence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS: Nine-hundred three persons with younger-onset type 1 diabetes mellitus who participated in the Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy.

EXPOSURES

Serum total and high-density cholesterol and history of statin use during the course of 5 visits spanning approximately 30 years (April 10, 1984, to February 13, 2014).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

Prevalence and incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.

RESULTS

A modest association was found for higher levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and decreased prevalence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (odds ratio per 10 mg/dL, 0.87; 95% CI, 0.82-0.93), adjusting for duration of diabetes mellitus, glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, statin use, and end-stage renal disease. While adjusting for covariates, no associations of serum total or high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and incident proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, nor of statin use with decreased incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy or macular edema, were identified.

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

In the course of long-duration diabetes mellitus during a time of changing medical care, there appeared to be little effect of serum lipids or statins on the incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and macular edema.