Age at diagnosis and C-peptide level are associated with diabetic retinopathy in Chinese

Role of Systemic Factors in Improving the Prognosis of Diabetic Retinal Disease and Predicting Response to Diabetic Retinopathy Treatment

Topic

To review clinical evidence on systemic factors that might be relevant to update diabetic retinal disease (DRD) staging systems, including prediction of DRD onset, progression, and response to treatment.

Clinical relevance

Systemic factors may improve new staging systems for DRD to better assess risk of disease worsening and predict response to therapy.

Methods

The Systemic Health Working Group of the Mary Tyler Moore Vision Initiative reviewed systemic factors individually and in multivariate models for prediction of DRD onset or progression (i.e., prognosis) or response to treatments (prediction).

Results

There was consistent evidence for associations of longer diabetes duration, higher glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and male sex with DRD onset and progression. There is strong trial evidence for the effect of reducing HbA1c and reducing DRD progression. There is strong evidence that higher blood pressure (BP) is a risk factor for DRD incidence and for progression. Pregnancy has been consistently reported to be associated with worsening of DRD but recent studies reflecting modern care standards are lacking. In studies examining multivariate prognostic models of DRD onset, HbA1c and diabetes duration were consistently retained as significant predictors of DRD onset. There was evidence of associations of BP and sex with DRD onset. In multivariate prognostic models examining DRD progression, retinal measures were consistently found to be a significant predictor of DRD with little evidence of any useful marginal increment in prognostic information with the inclusion of systemic risk factor data apart from retinal image data in multivariate models. For predicting the impact of treatment, although there are small studies that quantify prognostic information based on imaging data alone or systemic factors alone, there are currently no large studies that quantify marginal prognostic information within a multivariate model, including both imaging and systemic factors.

Conclusion

With standard imaging techniques and ways of processing images rapidly evolving, an international network of centers is needed to routinely capture systemic health factors simultaneously to retinal images so that gains in prediction increment may be precisely quantified to determine the usefulness of various health factors in the prognosis of DRD and prediction of response to treatment.

Financial Disclosures

Proprietary or commercial disclosure may be found in the Footnotes and Disclosures at the end of this article.

The relationship between diabetic retinopathy and diabetic nephropathy in type 2 diabetes

Context

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic nephropathy (DN), are major microvascular complications of diabetes. DR is an important predictor of DN, but the relationship between the severity of DR and the pathological severity of diabetic glomerulopathy remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the relationship between severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and histological changes and clinical indicators of diabetic nephropathy (DN) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).

Methods

Patients with T2DM (n=272) who underwent a renal biopsy were eligible. Severity of DR was classified as non-diabetic retinopathy, non-proliferative retinopathy, and proliferative retinopathy (PDR). Relationship between DN and DR and the diagnostic efficacy of DR for DN were explored.

Results

DN had a higher prevalence of DR (86.4%) and DR was more severe. The sensitivity and specificity of DR in DN were 86.4% and 78.8%, while PDR was 26.4% and 98.5%, respectively. In DN patients, the severity of glomerular lesions (p=0.001) and prevalence of KW nodules (p<0.001) significantly increased with increasing severity of DR. The presence of KW nodules, lower hemoglobin levels, and younger age were independent risk factors associated with more severe DR in patients with DN.

Conclusion

DR was a good predictor of DN. In DN patients, the severity of DR was associated with glomerular injury, and presence of KW nodules, lower hemoglobin levels and younger age were independent risk factors associated with more severe DR.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrails.gov, NCT03865914.

Correlation of hemoglobin levels with diabetic retinopathy in US adults aged ≥40 years: the NHANES 2005-2008

Purpose

The aim of this study was to explore the connection between hemoglobin levels and diabetic retinopathy (DR).

Methods

Cross-sectional research used data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 2005-2008. A multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the association between DR and hemoglobin levels. Additionally, generalized additivity models and smoothed curve fitting were carried out.

Results

After adjusting for several covariates, there was a negative association between hemoglobin levels and DR in the study, which included 837 participants. The negative association between hemoglobin levels and DR was present in men and women, the obese (BMI > 30), and 60- to 69-year-olds in subgroup analyses stratified by sex, BMI, and age. The association between hemoglobin levels and DR in the normal weight group (BMI < 25) displayed an inverted U-shaped curve with an inflection point of 13.7 (g/dL).

Conclusion

In conclusion, our research reveals that high hemoglobin levels are related to a decreased risk of DR. Ascertaining the hemoglobin levels ought to be regarded as an integral facet of the monitoring regimen for patients with diabetic complications and that the risk of DR is reduced through the detection and management of hemoglobin levels.

The average 30-minute post-prandial C-peptide predicted diabetic retinopathy progress: a retro-prospective study

BACKGROUND

The conclusion between Connecting peptide (C-peptide) and diabetic chronic complication was controversial. The purpose of this study is to explore the possible association between average C-peptide with diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

This is a retro-prospective study. 622 patients with type 2 diabetes were included. DR was evaluated using non-mydriatic fundus photography and DR progression was defined as any deterioration of either eye. Fasting and postprandial c-peptide levels were assayed at baseline and follow-up period. Differences between continuous variables were compared using the Mann-Whitney U test; and categorical variables were analyzed by the chi-square test. Correlation between parameters and 30-minute postprandial C-peptide were determined by Spearman correlation test. The relationship between C-peptide and DR progression was evaluated by multivariable binary logistic regression. Two-tailed P-values < 0.05 were regarded as statistically significant.

RESULTS

DR was present in 162 (26.0%) patients at baseline, and 26.4% of patients were found progression of DR at follow-up. Patients with progression of DR had lower average levels of 30-minute postprandial C-peptide (2.01 ng/ml vs. 2.6 ng/ml, p = 0.015) and 120-minute postprandial C-peptide (3.17 ng/ml vs. 3.92 ng/ml, p < 0.029), as well as average increment of 30-minute (0.41 ng/ml vs. 0.64 ng/ml, p = 0.015) and 120-minute postprandial C-peptide (1.48 ng/ml vs. 1.93 ng/ml, p < 0.017), than those without DR aggravation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis determined that 30-minute postprandial C-peptide and its increment were related to reduced odds ratios for DR progression (odds ratios [OR] = 0.83 and 0.74, respectively).

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that the Average 30-minute post-prandial C-peptide and increment were negatively correlated with DR progression, which further demonstrates the importance to preserve β-cell residual function in the prevention for DR progression.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Not applicable.

Assessment of circulating fibrotic proteins (periostin and tenascin -C) In Type 2 diabetes mellitus patients with and without retinopathy

PURPOSE

Diabetic retinopathy is a leading cause of vision impairment. Surging diabetic population and poor visual care raises the need for better diagnostic tools. Hence, it is worthwhile to look for biomarkers associated with the disease pathogenesis. Periostin and tenascin-C are matricellular proteins mediating fibrillogenesis in retinopathy. Their serum levels and association with the presence and severity of retinopathy in diabetics is of importance to be explored.

METHODS

The study involved two groups of type 2 diabetes patients, 38 controls without retinopathy and 38 cases with retinopathy. We obtained serum sample and performed biochemical autoanalysis for routine parameters. Special parameters periostin, tenascin-C, and C-peptide were estimated by ELISA.

RESULTS

Periostin and tenascin-C were significantly elevated in the retinopathy group. Periostin progressively increased among subgroups. C-peptide decreased significantly in retinopathy group and had a negative correlation with duration of DM, duration of retinopathy, HbA1c and tenascin-C. We observed a positive correlation for periostin and tenascin-C with duration of diabetes. The AUC for C-peptide was the highest (0.750) amongst our parameters. HOMA 2 (%B) index was significantly lower in retinopathy group.

CONCLUSIONS

Serum Levels of PO and TnC increased in retinopathy. As the disease advances, periostin level increases, indicating continuing fibrosis and fibrovascular membrane formation. Periostin and tenascin-C increase with duration of retinopathy whereas levels of C-peptide decrease. C-peptide has a better differentiating potential for DR from DM. Reduced insulin production as indicated by declined HOMA 2-%BETA in retinopathy favors hyperglycemia and chronic inflammatory state for the disease progression.

White Matter Microstructural Abnormalities of the Visual Pathway in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Generalized Q-sampling Imaging Study

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

Neurodegeneration is an early event in the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy (DR). We assessed the white matter microstructural integrity of the visual pathway in diabetes patients vs. healthy subjects, and investigated the advantages of generalized Q-sampling imaging (GQI) in the assessment of the visual pathway.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

T1-weighted, T2-weighted fluid-attenuated inversion recovery, and simultaneous multislice- diffusion sequences were acquired from 21 DR patients, 29 diabetes patients without DR (NDR group), and 28 age- and gender-matched healthy controls. Diffusion source images were reconstructed to GQI. Region of interest (ROI)-based analysis was utilized to evaluate microstructural alterations in the visual pathway. Multivariate linear regression analysis (forward stepwise method) was performed to investigate associations between clinical data and mean GQI parameters.

RESULTS

ROI-based analyses indicated that the GQI parameters generalized fractional anisotropy, quantitative anisotropy (QA), and normalized QA (NQA) were significantly lower in the NDR group than in the healthy controls, and even lower in the DR group than in the NDR group. Disease duration was significantly and negatively correlated with mean generalized fractional anisotropy and mean NQA.

CONCLUSION

GQI could sensitively and non-invasively evaluate the visual pathway in diabetes patients. The nerve fibers of the visual pathway were damaged before the onset of retinopathy, and this damage was aggravated after retinopathy onset, as a consequence of long exposure to hyperglycemia.

Incidence and risk factors of severe non-proliferative/proliferative diabetic retinopathy: More than a decade follow up in the Tehran Lipids and Glucose Study

AIMS/INTRODUCTION

To examine the incidence rate of severe non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (severe-NPDR/PDR) and determine its potential risk factors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The study consisted of 1,169 participants (675 women) with type 2 diabetes mellitus, aged ≥20 years. A trained interviewer collected information about the history of pan-retinal photocoagulation as a result of diabetic retinopathy. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were applied.

RESULTS

We found 187 cases (126 women) of severe-NPDR/PDR during a median follow-up period of 12.7 years; the corresponding incidence rate was 13.6 per 1,000 person-years. Being overweight (hazard ratio [HR], 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.60, 0.39-0.92) and obese (HR 0.48, 95% CI 0.27-0.83) were associated with lower risk, whereas being smoker (HR 1.75, 95% CI 1.12-2.74), having fasting plasma glucose levels 7.22-10.0 mmol/L (HR 2.81, 95% CI 1.70-4.62), fasting plasma glucose ≥10 mmol/L (HR 5.87, 95% CI 3.67-9.41), taking glucose-lowering medications (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.87-3.56), prehypertension status (HR 1.65, 95% CI 1.05-2.58) and newly diagnosed hypertension (HR 1.96, 95% CI 1.06-3.65) increased the risk of severe-NPDR/PDR. Among newly diagnosed diabetes patients, being male was associated with a 59% lower risk of severe-NPDR/PDR (HR 0.41, 95% CI 0.21-0.79). Furthermore, patients who had an intermediate level of education (6-12 years) had a higher risk of developing PDR (HR 1.86, 95% CI 1.05-3.30) compared with those who had <6 years of education.

CONCLUSIONS

Among Iranians with type 2 diabetes mellitus, 1.36% developed severe-NPDR/PDR annually. Normal bodyweight, being a smoker, out of target fasting plasma glucose level, prehypertension and newly diagnosed hypertension status were independent risk factors of severe-NPDR/PDR. Regarding the sight-threatening entity of advanced diabetic retinopathy, the multicomponent strategy to control diabetes, abstinence of smoking and tight control of blood pressure should be considered.

Impact of age at type 2 diabetes mellitus diagnosis on mortality and vascular complications: systematic review and meta-analyses

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Few studies examine the association between age at diagnosis and subsequent complications from type 2 diabetes. This paper aims to summarise the risk of mortality, macrovascular complications and microvascular complications associated with age at diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

Data were sourced from MEDLINE and All EBM (Evidence Based Medicine) databases from inception to July 2018. Observational studies, investigating the effect of age at diabetes diagnosis on macrovascular and microvascular diabetes complications in adults with type 2 diabetes were selected according to pre-specified criteria. Two investigators independently extracted data and evaluated all studies. If data were not reported in a comparable format, data were obtained from authors, presented as minimally adjusted ORs (and 95% CIs) per 1 year increase in age at diabetes diagnosis, adjusted for current age for each outcome of interest. The study protocol was recorded with PROSPERO International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42016043593).

RESULTS

Data from 26 observational studies comprising 1,325,493 individuals from 30 countries were included. Random-effects meta-analyses with inverse variance weighting were used to obtain the pooled ORs. Age at diabetes diagnosis was inversely associated with risk of all-cause mortality and macrovascular and microvascular disease (all p < 0.001). Each 1 year increase in age at diabetes diagnosis was associated with a 4%, 3% and 5% decreased risk of all-cause mortality, macrovascular disease and microvascular disease, respectively, adjusted for current age. The effects were consistent for the individual components of the composite outcomes (all p < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Younger, rather than older, age at diabetes diagnosis was associated with higher risk of mortality and vascular disease. Early and sustained interventions to delay type 2 diabetes onset and improve blood glucose levels and cardiovascular risk profiles of those already diagnosed are essential to reduce morbidity and mortality. Graphical abstract.

Anti‑glycolipid disorder effect of epigallocatechin‑3‑gallate on high‑fat diet and STZ‑induced T2DM in mice

Epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG) is beneficial for inhibiting dyslipidemia and reducing hyperlipidemic risk. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the glycolipid regulatory effects and potential mechanisms of EGCG in a high-fat diet and streptozotocin-induced type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) mouse model. The results demonstrated that EGCG can decrease blood glucose levels and increase insulin resistance in T2DM mice. In addition, EGCG can regulate serum lipid levels, including those of total cholesterol, triglyceride and low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-r), and reduce lipid deposition in vascular endothelial cells in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, the gene and protein expression of related scavenger receptors, including cluster of differentiation 36, sterol regulatory element binding protein 2 (SREBP), SREBP cleavage-activating protein and LDL-r, were downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. The present study noted that EGCG possesses potential as a natural product for preventing and treating metabolic hyperlipidemia syndrome, probably by reducing the blood lipid levels, alleviating vascular endothelial cell damage, maintaining normal lipid metabolism in blood vessels and ameliorating glycolipid disorders.

Increased serum periostin concentrations are associated with the presence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

PURPOSE

To determine the association between serum periostin and the presence of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODS

Serum periostin was detected in 114 healthy subjects, 122 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and 159 patients with DR and compared among groups. Clinical data and other laboratory measurements such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), lipid profiles, serum creatinine (Cr) and high-sensitivity CRP (hsCRP) were also collected and compared among groups. For subgroup analysis, patients with DR were divided into a non-proliferated diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group and a proliferated diabetic retinopathy (PDR) group. Multivariate analysis was performed using logistic regression models.

RESULTS

The serum periostin level was significantly higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared with healthy subjects and patients with T2DM (both P < 0.001, respectively). Also, the periostin level was significantly higher in the PDR group compared to the NPDR group (P = 0.044). Multivariate logistic regression revealed that serum periostin was independently associated with the presence of DR in patients with T2DM (P < 0.001). The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves for DR development using serum periostin showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUC) was 0.838 (P < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The current study demonstrated that serum periostin is significantly associated with the presence of DR in patients with T2DM and is an independent risk factor of DR.

Peptídeo C e mortalidade cardiovascular: revisão sistemática e metanálise

Objetivo

Analisar as evidências de associação entre peptídeo C e mortalidade cardiovascular e geral disponíveis na literatura.

Métodos

Foi realizada uma revisão sistemática das bases de dados MEDLINE e EMBASE. Foram incluídos artigos publicados em inglês, português ou espanhol relatando estudos observacionais que investigaram a associação entre o peptídeo C e a mortalidade cardiovascular e geral. Buscou-se ainda avaliar a associação entre peptídeo C e fatores de risco cardiometabólicos, fatores hemodinâmicos e medidas antropométricas. A qualidade metodológica dos estudos foi avaliada de acordo com os critérios da escala Newcastle-Ottawa.

Resultados

Foram identificados 107 estudos relacionados ao tema. Ao final do processo de triagem, foram incluídos 18 artigos que apresentavam dados sobre a associação entre peptídeo C e risco cardiovascular. Cinco estudos forneceram dados sobre a relação entre peptídeo C e mortalidade cardiovascular e geral. O peptídeo C esteve associado positivamente ao IMC em chineses, e inversamente ao HDL colesterol em amostras populacionais na Ásia, Oriente Médio e Estados Unidos. Todavia, não foi possível realizar metanálise para os componentes de risco cardiovascular. Por outro lado, o peptídeo C esteve associado com a mortalidade cardiovascular (RR = 1,62; IC95%: 0,99 a 2,66) e geral (RR = 1,39; IC95%: 1,04 a 1,84).

Conclusão

Na revisão sistemática e metanálise realizadas, os níveis séricos de peptídeo C estiveram associados positivamente com a mortalidade geral em todos os indivíduos e com a mortalidade cardiovascular em pessoas sem comorbidades. Com base nesses resultados, é possível recomendar o emprego do peptídeo C na prática clínica como proxy da condição de resistência à insulina associada a mortalidade cardiovascular.

Age, age at diagnosis and diabetes duration are all associated with vascular complications in type 2 diabetes

BACKGROUND

Type 2 diabetes (T2DM) is increasingly diagnosed in younger patients. The trajectory of complications in patients diagnosed at a younger or older age is not well understood. We examine the associations between age, age at diagnosis and diabetes duration and vascular complications in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

A cross-sectional study of pre-specified demographic and clinical data, from 3419 adults with T2DM participating in the Australian National Diabetes Audit (2015). Factors associated with diabetes complications were analysed using logistic regression.

RESULTS

Mean (±SD) current age was 62.9±12.5years, age at diagnosis was 49.4±12.3years and mean diabetes duration was 13.5±9.4years. Macrovascular complications were more prevalent in patients who were older at diabetes diagnosis whereas microvascular complications were more prevalent in patients who were younger at diabetes diagnosis. Age, age at diagnosis and diabetes duration were all independently associated with increased risk of macrovascular complications after adjustment for sex, smoking, BMI and microvascular complications (all p<0.001). In contrast, only diabetes duration was independently associated with microvascular complications after adjustment for sex, smoking, BMI and macrovascular complications (p<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

Age, age at diagnosis, and diabetes duration were all independently associated with macrovascular complications whereas only diabetes duration was independently associated with microvascular complications.

Trends in diabetic retinopathy and related medical practices among type 2 diabetes patients: Results from the National Insurance Service Survey 2006-2013

Aims/Introduction

The present study aimed to analyze the temporal changes in the prevalence, screening rate, visual impairments and treatment patterns of diabetic retinopathy in the Korean population over 8 years.

Materials and Methods

This was a retrospective population‐based study of Korean national health insurance beneficiaries aged 30 years or older with type 2 diabetes, obtained from the Korean National Health Insurance Claims database from 2006 to 2013 (n = 1,655,495 in 2006 and 2,720,777 in 2013). The annual prevalence rates of diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, dilated fundus examinations, visual impairment, laser treatment and vitrectomy, as determined based on diagnostic and treatment codes, were analyzed.

Results

There was a steady increase in the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, from 14.3% in 2006 to 15.9% in 2013. However, the incidence of new diabetic retinopathy cases decreased from 6.7/100 person‐years in 2006 to 5.6 in 2013. Approximately 98% of patients underwent at least one dilated fundus examination during the follow‐up period. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy peaked in the 60–69 years age group. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was higher in female than in male diabetes patients. The proportion of patients who underwent an annual dilated fundus examination improved from 24.3% in 2006 to 30.0% in 2013. Among patients with diabetic retinopathy, constant decreases in the proportions of those who received laser treatment (11.4% in 2006 to 6.9% in 2013) and who underwent vitrectomy (2.4% in 2006 to 1.7% in 2013) were noted. Additionally, a decreasing trend in the prevalence of visual impairment was noted among the patients with diabetic retinopathy, from 2% (4,820/237,267) in 2006 to 0.08% (3,572/431,964) in 2013.

Conclusions

Although there was a rapid increase in the prevalence of diabetes in the Korean population in the past decade, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy remained stable during the study period. However, just three out of 10 patients with diabetes underwent regular annual dilated fundus examinations. Thus, an improvement in the continuity of diabetic retinopathy screening among patients with diabetes is necessary to reduce the risk of visual impairment as a result of diabetic retinopathy.

Body mass index and risk of diabetic retinopathy: A meta-analysis and systematic review

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a frequent cause of acquired blindness worldwide. Various studies have reported the effects of body mass index (BMI) on the risk of DR, but the results remain controversial. Therefore, a meta-analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between BMI and the risk of DR.A systematic search was performed using the Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Embase databases to obtain articles published through December 2016. Articles regarding the association between BMI and the risk of DR were retrieved. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and their 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were included and then pooled with a random effects model.A total of 27 articles were included in this meta-analysis. When BMI was analyzed as a categorical variable, neither being overweight (OR = 0.89, 95% CI 0.75-1.07; P = .21; I = 65%) nor obesity (OR = 0.97, 95% CI 0.73-1.30; P = .86) were associated with an increased risk of DR when compared with normal weight. When BMI was analyzed as a continuous variable, a higher BMI was not associated with an increased risk of DR (OR = 0.99, 95% CI 0.97-1.01; P = .25; I2 = 79%). The pooled results did not significantly change after the sensitivity analysis.Based on the current publications, neither being overweight nor obesity is associated with an increased risk of DR. Further studies should confirm these findings.

Association between body mass index and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes

AIMS

To explore the factors mediating the relationship between body mass index (BMI) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Chinese type 2 diabetes patients.

METHODS

This is a cross-sectional study. Data of 2,533 patients with type 2 diabetes were studied from the Shanghai Diabetes Registry Database. DR was assessed using non-mydriatic fundus photography and graded as non-DR, mild-moderate (DR I-II), and sight-threatening (DR III-IV). BMI (kg/m(2)) was classified as normal weight (18.5 ≤ BMI < 25), overweight (25 ≤ BMI < 30), and obese (BMI ≥ 30). β cell function was evaluated by fasting C-peptide (FCP).

RESULTS

DR was present in 701 (27.7 %) patients. Patients with DR had lower BMI (24.3 vs. 24.9 kg/m(2), P = 0.001) and fasting C-peptide (1.46 vs. 1.86 ng/ml, P < 0.001) than those without DR. The association between BMI (2 kg/m(2) interval) and DR was U-shaped; patients with BMI 28-29.9 kg/m(2) had the lowest DR rate. Compared with normal weight, overweight was associated with reduced risk of any DR [odds ratio (OR) 0.73], DR I-II (OR 0.76), and DR III-IV (OR 0.64) after adjustment for sex, age at diabetes diagnosis, and duration of diabetes. This negative association attenuated after adjustment for other confounders and became nonsignificant after further adjustment for FCP. Patients with different BMI categories had similar DR risk when stratified by FCP tertiles.

CONCLUSION

Overweight patients have lower DR prevalence than normal weight individuals, which may be attributable to better β cell function in overweight patients.

Prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in Liaoning province, China: a population-based cross-sectional study

Aim

To evaluate the prevalence and risk factors of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in northeast area of China with a population-based study.

Methods

A population of 3173 (aged from 20 to 80 years old) was stratified by geographical location and age in Liaoning province, China. Prediabetes and diabetes were diagnosed according to the guideline of American Diabetes Association. Retinal photographs were obtained by using digital non-mydriatic camera for the presence and grading of DR according to the modified ETDRS Airlie house classification. Blood samples and comprehensive questionnaires were obtained for evaluation of laboratory results and risk factors.

Results

The prevalence of prediabetes and diabetes was 20.7% and 10.4%, respectively. Among diabetes patients, DR prevalence was 11.9%. Age, obesity, total cholesterol, triglycerides, hypertension, living in rural areas and diabetes family history are all risk factors for prediabetes and diabetes. Waist-to-hip circumference rate served as a better obesity index to estimate diabetes risk compared with body mass index and waist circumference. Among all risk factors that we investigated, only the length of diabetes history was associated with the incidence of DR. However, DR prevalence in the newly discovered patients in rural areas was significantly higher than that in urban areas.

Conclusion

According to this study, 1 in 10 people has diabetes, 2 in 10 people have prediabetes, and 1 in 10 diabetics has DR in Liaoning province. In rural areas, diabetes was poorly recognized with limited medical resources, which probably resulted in more diabetes patient at a high risk of DR.

Free Triiodothyronine Levels Are Associated with Diabetic Nephropathy in Euthyroid Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Objective. To investigate the association of thyroid function and diabetic nephropathy (DN) in euthyroid patients with type 2 diabetes. Methods. A total of 421 patients were included in this cross-sectional study. The following parameters were assessed: anthropometric measurements, fast plasma glucose, serum creatinine, lipid profile, HbA1c, free triiodothyronine (FT3), free thyroxine, thyroid-stimulating hormone levels, and urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (UACR). Patients with UACR of ≥30 mg/g were defined as those suffering from DN. Results. Of the 421 patients, 203 (48.2%) suffered from DN, and no difference was found between males and females. The patients with DN yielded significantly lower FT3 levels than those without DN (P < 0.01). The prevalence of DN showed a significantly decreasing trend across the three tertiles based on FT3 levels (59.6%, 46.4%, and 38.6%, P < 0.01). After adjustment for gender and age, FT3 levels were found to correlate positively with estimated glomerular filtration rate (P = 0.03) and negatively with UACR (P < 0.01). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that FT3 level was independently associated with UACR (β = -0.18, t = -3.70, and P < 0.01). Conclusion. Serum FT3 levels are inversely associated with DN in euthyroid patients with type 2 diabetes, independent of traditional risk factors.