Morbidity and mortality in patients with diabetic retinopathy.

Most studies indicate that diabetics have both a higher mortality rate and a higher morbidity rate secondary to generalized vascular occlusive disease than non-diabetic patients of corresponding age and sex. There is also some evidence that diabetics with proliferative retinopathy are more at risk than diabetics without retinopathy. This study was undertaken to determine and compare the morbidity and mortality rates in diabetics with: (a) No retinopathy, (b) Background retinopathy, (c) Proliferative retinopathy. The records and fundus photographs of 800 diabetics were reviewed and the data statistically analysed according to age, sex, presence and type of retinopathy, morbidity, and mortality. The mortality rates were also compared with the normal population life study data.