Diabetic Retinopathy Awareness and Associations with Multiple Comorbidities: Insights from DIAMOND Study.

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is leading cause of visual impairment in working-age adults. Macular edema can occur with or without other signs of retinopathy.

METHODS

This was a single-center, retrospective study conducted over 2 years in patients (>40 years of age) having type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). Outcome measures were to analyze awareness and prevalence of DR and association of DR with identified risk factors.

RESULTS

Overall 6000 T2DM patients over 2 years were retrospectively evaluated. Almost 63% ( = 3780) of patients were unaware that diabetes affects the retina. Almost 65% ( = 3894) of patients were reported to have DR. Total 78.98% of males, and 69.50% of females had DR. There was a significant increase in the incidence of DR with age ( < 0.00001). Almost 60.80% ( = 3653) of patients having DR were from working age group (40-70 years). Evidently, 42% ( = 2520) of patients having DR had HbA1c > 9% ( < 0.00001). Overall 52.02% ( = 1820) of smokers were reported of DR ( < 0.00001). With the increase in total cholesterol and triglycerides, there was a significant increase in DR incidence ( < 0.00001). A strong association was observed between hypertension and DR, with 42.6% ( = 2556) of patients having coexistence of hypertension and DR ( < 0.00001). Patients having diabetic kidney disease (DKD) also reported DR. A high proportion of patients (49.11%, = 2947) had co-existence of cardiac morbidity and DR. Almost 47% ( = 2845) of patients having DR were also reported anemia. Totally 43.85% ( = 2631) of patients with microalbuminuria had two times more risk of developing proliferative DR ( < 0.00001). The statistical significance for the association of DR with risk factors, calculated by Pearson Chi-Square method of analysis was found statistically significant ( < 0.00001).

CONCLUSION

The study reported the high prevalence and significantly high unawareness for DR in T2DM patients. All the risk factors are independently and significantly associated with DR ( < 0.00001).