From A Population to Patients: The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

In 1980‐1982, 71% of the younger-onset group had diabetic retinopathy with 23% of them having proliferative retinopathy (PDR) and 9.5% of whom had proliferative retinopathy with high-risk characteristics for severe visual loss (PDR-HRC). In the older-onset, insulin-using group, 70% had diabetic retinopathy with 14% of them having PDR and 5% of whom had PDR-HRC. In the older-onset, non-insulin using group, 39% had diabetic retinopathy with 3% of them having PDR and 1.4% of whom had PDR-HRC. Six percent of the younger-onset group, 12% of the olderonset insulin-using groups, and 4% of the older-onset, noninsulin‐using group had clinically significant macular edema (CSME). 3,4 Following the 1984‐1986, and the 1990‐1992 examinations, 4- and 10-year incidence rates were determined. 5 The annualized 4- and 10-year incidence and progression were found to be similar. The average annual incidence of diabetic retinopathy was 19%‐20% in the younger-onset group, 15% in the older-onset, insulinusing group, and 10% in the older-onset, non-insulin‐using group. The average annual progression of diabetic retinopathy was 13% in the younger-onset group, 12% in the older-onset, insulin-using group and 7%‐9% in the olderonset, non-insulin‐using group. The average annual progression of diabetic retinopathy to PDR was 3%‐4% in the younger-onset group, 2%‐3% in the older-onset, insulinusing group, and 1% in the older-onset, non-insulin‐using group. In this issue, 25-year follow-up data on progression of diabetic retinopathy in the younger-onset group has been provided. 6 The cumulative 25-year incidence of any retinopathy, progression of any retinopathy, and progression to