Association between diabetic retinopathy with atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and atherosclerosis cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). Methods Clinical data of 654 patients with type 2 diabetic mellitus (T2DM) were collected from a cross sectional, population based survey on chronic diseases and risk factors which was conducted in Beijing Changping district from July 2010 to March 2011. Among 654 T2DM patients, there were 73 patients with ASCVD (ASCVD group) and 581 patients without ASCVD (non-ASCVD group). The association between DR and ASCVD was analyzed. Results Patients with ASCVD had significantly older age[58.5(53.9, 65.9) years], more female sex[52(71.2%)], higher proportion of ASCVD history [45(61.6%)], higher levels of PG 2 h[16.26(11.08, 19.20) mmol/L], HbA1c[7.20(6.55, 8.85)%], systolic pressure [151(133, 165) mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)] and lower eGFR[87.2(75.0, 103.0) ml·min-1·1.73 m-2] than non-ASCVD patients[52.4(46.5, 58.3) years, Z=-5.86, P=0.00; 307(52.8%), χ2=-8.86, P=0.00; 256(44.1%), χ2=8.07, P=0.01; 13.10(8.99, 17.93) mmol/L, Z=-2.35, P=0.02; 6.70(6.00, 7.90)%, Z=-3.33, P=0.00; 143(131, 158) mmHg, χ2=-2.28, P=0.02; 94.6(84.8, 106.3) ml·min-1·1.73 m-2,Z=- 3.47, P=0.00]. The trend to develop DR in ASCVD group was significantly higher than that in non-ASCVD group [19.2%(14/74) vs. 8.3%(48/581), χ2=9.01, P=0.00]. DR was an independent statistical indicator of the presence of ASCVD [OR(95%CI): 2.64 (1.37-5.06), P=0.00]. Furthermore, when DR was divided into NPDR and PDR according to its severity, only PDR was significantly associated with incident ASCVD [OR(95%CI): 12.05 (2.63-55.12), P=0.00]. After adjusting for traditional ASCVD risk factors, such an association still existed, with the risk of having ASCVD increasing by 718% [OR (95% CI): 8.18(1.56-42.81), P=0.01]. DR associates strongly with ASCVD in the Chinese population with T2DM. Conclussion With the severity of DR increasing, the risk of ASCVD also grows. After adjustment for traditional risk factors, PDR is still associated with the risk of prevalent ASCVD. Key words: Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic retinopathy; Cardiovascular diseases, atherosclerosis