Association of serum lipid levels and social factors with diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: Study from tertiary care center of Western Maharashtra

Abstract

To study the prevalence of dyslipidemia and to find out the correlation between serum lipid levels and social factors like occupation, locality(urban/rural) and education status with diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.200 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus were segregated into 2 categories:- First category of patients with diabetic retinopathy and second category of patients without diabetic retinopathy. Serum lipid levels of subjects were measured and social history like occupation, locality (urban/rural) and education status was taken. Observations were compared to check association between above factors and diabetic retinopathy.The prevalence of dyslipidemia was found to be 75.50%. Mean ± SD of LDL(mg/dL) in patients with diabetic retinopathy was 118.86 ± 40.58 which was significantly higher as compared to patients without diabetic retinopathy (p value=0.006). No significant association was seen in the distribution of total cholesterol(mg/dL), HDL(mg/dL), Triglyceride(mg/dL) with diabetic retinopathy (p value>.05). 10% of patients with DR worked as clerks while 52% were homemakers, thus, significant association was seen in the relationship of occupation with the presence of diabetic retinopathy (p value<.05). Diabetic retinopathy was more prevalent among type 2 diabetics living in urban areas (p<0.0001). 16% of patients with DR had studied up to primary school while 28% of patients with DR had studied up to high school, thus significant association was seen between the education status of the patients and the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy (p value<.05).Elevated serum LDL levels were found to be a significant risk factor for diabetic retinopathy. Clerks and homemakers were more predisposed to diabetic retinopathy. Subjects who received education up to primary school and high school and subjects living in urban areas had significantly increased rates of diabetic retinopathy.