Epidemiology and risk factors for development of diabetic retinopathy

Abstract

Background: DR is one of the leading causes of blindness worldwide and patients with this sight threatening disease are expected to increase as dietary habits are changing especially in developing nations. Objective: The epidemiology and the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic retinopathy patients attending the outpatient clinic of Mansoura ophthalmic center through one year.Patients and methods: This cross-sectional descriptive study included 200patients with diabetic retinopathy recruited from Mansoura ophthalmic center, Mansoura University Hospitals, Egypt. After obtaining a written informed consent, the cases were subjected to full history taking and full ophthalmological examination. Spectral domain OCT 1000was used to obtain retinal images. Laboratory investigations were conducted for all the cases included HBA1C, lipid profile and serum creatinineResults: There was a statistically significant difference in the mean macular thickness between the eyes according to the findings of fundus examination. The highest macular thickness was reported with the eyes with sever non proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). The mean macular thickness was statistically significantly higher in the cases with hypertension and cases with hepatitis. There was no statistically significant difference in the macular thickness according to sex, smoking or family history of DM. Linear regression analysis confirmed that cholesterol level and best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) had statistically significant predictive ability for macular thickness.Conclusion: Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes. Screening for DR at the initial stage of diabetes may prevent disability from blindness caused by DR.