The relation of socioeconomic factors to the incidence of proliferative diabetic retinopathy and loss of vision.

PURPOSE

To investigate the relations between socioeconomic factors and the incidence of proliferative retinopathy and loss of vision.

METHODS

A population-based sample of younger-onset persons with diabetes 25 years of age or older (n = 334) and older-onset persons with diabetes (n = 906) was followed over a 4-year period. Education, occupational status, employment status, and marital status were measured at baseline and follow-up. Main outcome measures were incidence of proliferative retinopathy and loss of vision measured using standard protocols.

RESULTS

Proliferative retinopathy was more likely to develop in younger-onset women with less education than in those with more education; no relation was found in the older-onset group. Education was associated inversely with incidence of loss of vision in younger-onset women and older-onset men.

CONCLUSION

These data suggest that education is associated with the development of loss of vision, independent of other risk factors. The associations vary between men and women and between younger-onset and older-onset people with diabetes. Further understanding of these relationships may lead to interventions to prevent loss of vision in people with diabetes.