Abstract
IntroductionPatients with diabetes having advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR) may predict future risk of coronary artery disease. To predict cardiovascular outcomes carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is utilized in diabetic patients. The aim of our study was the evaluation of the relationship between retinopathy and CIMT as two valuable non-invasive methods for early detection of micro- and macrovascular complication of diabetes.MethodsThis comparative cross-sectional study was conducted in the internal medicine ward of tertiary care hospital in Pakistan from November 2020 to January 2021. Three hundred patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and 300 control subjects were enrolled in the study after taking informed consent. Ophthalmological examination was done to screen patients for DR. CIMT was evaluated by a Doppler ultrasound for both carotid arteries.ResultsCarotid artery intimal thickness was more in patients with retinopathy compared to patients without retinopathy in both right (0.77 ± 0.16 vs. 0.66 ± 0.12; p-value: <0.0001) and left carotid artery (0.77 ± 0.15 vs. 0.65 ± 0.11; p-value: <0.0001).ConclusionIn our study, there was a correlation between DR and CIMT. Screening for DR, which may be a potential early marker for complications, may help detect patients at risk of various macro and microvascular complications.
Highlights
Patients with diabetes having advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR) may predict future risk of coronary artery disease
Several studies have proved this link between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and retinopathy; one of them being conducted by Miyamoto et al in which 102 patients with diabetes were examined to demonstrate a positive correlation between retinopathy and thickness of the common carotid artery [12]
Considering the positive correlation between CIMT and DR, this study suggests that proper screening in patients with retinopathy could help in early diagnoses
Summary
Patients with diabetes having advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy (DR) may predict future risk of coronary artery disease. To predict cardiovascular outcomes carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) is utilized in diabetic patients. The aim of our study was the evaluation of the relationship between retinopathy and CIMT as two valuable non-invasive methods for early detection of micro- and macrovascular complication of diabetes
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