Abstract

ROMERO-AROCA, P. et al. Diabetic retinopathy epidemiology in type II diabetic patients: Effect of the changes in the diagnostic criteria and stricter control of the diabetes between 1993 and 2005 on the incidence of diabetic retinopathy. Arch Soc Esp Oftalmol [online]. 2007, vol.82, n.4, pp.209-218. ISSN 0365-6691.

Objective: The aim of the study was to compare the results with those of a previous study by the same author in 1993 when 741 type II diabetic patients were recruited. We determined the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and the impact of the new diagnostic criteria and stricter control of diabetes on the results obtained. Methods: The study sample was obtained by hazard selection of 741 type II diabetic patients, from the total diabetic patients visited in the interval between January 1 and December 1 in 2005. Results: We observed a decrease in the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy between the two studies. In the first study the incidence was 39.41% while in the present study it was 27.55%. The diabetic macular edema prevalence was similar in both studies (7.15% in the past and 7.90% in the present study). There was also a decrease in the number of blind patients (11.20% in 1993 and 4.90% in the current study). The number of patients treated with laser photocoagulation increased (13.49% in the current study as compared to 6.20% in the previous study). Statistic analysis revealed the risk factors for retinopathy: diabetes mellitus duration, elevated HbA1C levels and the need for insulin treatment. Conclusions: A better control of diabetes mellitus may lead us to observe an increase in visual acuity, and a better control of diabetic retinopathy. The incidence of diabetic retinopathy certainly decreased between the study periods; however the overall incidence of diabetes in the community has increased during the last few years, making firm conclusions difficult.

Keywords : Diabetic retinopathy; Type II Diabetes Mellitus; diabetic macular edema; diabetic retinopathy epidemiology.

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