OBJECTIVE—To estimate the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) 10 years after diagnosis in a nationwide population-based cohort study of young adult diabetic patients in Sweden.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS—The Diabetes Incidence Study in Sweden (DISS) aims to register all incident cases of diabetes aged 15–34 years in Sweden. In 1987–1988, 806 cases were reported, and 627 (78%) of them were followed up with regard to retinopathy 8–10 years later. The assessment was based on retinal photographs in most cases (86%).
RESULTS—Ten years after diagnosis, retinopathy was found in 247 patients (39%). The retinopathy was mild in 206 (33%), whereas 30 (4.8%) patients had moderate nonproliferative DR (NPDR) and 11 (1.8%) had proliferative DR (PDR). Patients with retinopathy had worse glycemic control during the years than patients without (HbA1c 8.1 ± 1.5% and 6.8 ± 1.2%, respectively; P < 0.001). In a Cox regression analysis, time to retinopathy was related to high HbA1c (P < 0.001) and high BMI (P = 0.001). Patients with type 2 diabetes had an increased prevalence of severe retinopathy (NPDR or PDR) compared with those with type 1 diabetes (14 of 93 [15%] versus no or mild 24 of 471 [5%], respectively; P < 0.001).
CONCLUSIONS—Despite modern diabetes management, 39% of young adult diabetic patients developed retinopathy within the first 10 years of the disease. Nevertheless, compared with the prevalence of retinopathy (63%), after a similar duration of diabetes before the Diabetes Control and Complications Trial, this prevalence was clearly lower. Current treatment aimed to achieve strict glycemic control has reduced the risk for developing retinopathy.
There were large differences in GHb values among laboratories participating in studies of diabetic complications. The present data offer a guide to the comparison of results from the studies and underscores the need for standardization of GHb measurements.
In patients with diabetes duration of 6-13 years, the prevalence of retinopathy is clearly related to glycaemic control. Furthermore, the risk of retinopathy varies with different age at onset, independently of differences in duration or glycaemic control.
The importance of glycaemic control for the development of proliferative retinopathy and nephropathy was assessed by monitoring glycated haemoglobin for 5 years or more before the diagnosis of these complications. The study comprised Type 1 (insulin-dependent) diabetic patients diagnosed at an age less than 31 years, and with diabetes duration 25 years or less. They were followed for an average of 7.9 years with 3.3 measurements per year. Of 172 patients screened for retinopathy 60 had no retinopathy, 104 had background retinopathy, and 8 had proliferative retinopathy The mean HbAlc (95% confidence intervals) of the groups was 6.4% (6.2-6.7%), 7.3% (7.1-7.5%) and 8.9% (8.1-9.6%), respectively (p < 0.0001); the mean duration of diabetes was 12, 18, and 17 years. Of 186 patients 7 had nephropathy (albuminuria > 200 mg/l). Mean HbAlc in patients without nephropathy was 7.0% (6.8-7.1%) and in patients with nephropathy 8.8% (7.8-9.9%, p < 0.001). Mean diabetes duration was 16 years in both groups. Multiple logistic regression including mean HbAlc, age at onset, duration, sex, and hypertension, was for both proliferative retinopathy and nephropathy significant only for mean HbAlc. In all cases, proliferative retinopathy and nephropathy were preceded by poor glycaemic control over several years, suggesting that these complications are caused by poor glycaemic control.
Background: In 1994, the mortality in coronary heart disease was four times higher among Lithuanian middle-aged men than among Swedish men. Over the period 1993-1995, the LiVicordia study investigated possible causes for this difference. We have earlier reported lower serum levels of cholesterol and higher susceptibility of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol for oxidation among Lithuanian men. Objective: In this part of the study, the aim was to compare mean estimates of food intake. Design: Cross-sectional study of random samples of 50-year-old men from each of the cities of Linkoping , Sweden and Vilnius, Lithuania (n= 150). The volunteers were interviewed about their food intake with the 24-hour recall method. Results: We found no differences in total energy intake, but Vilnius men had a higher energy intake from fat. Vilnius men consumed more fat from meat and less vegetable fat, while fat intake from dairy products was almost the same. Also, Vilnius men had a higher intake of vegetables, while Linkoping men had a higher intake of fruit and berries. Conclusion: The observed differences in food consumption and dietary composition are partly consistent with the higher CHD mortality among Lithuanian men. However, data on biomarkers indicate that other dietary and lifestyle factors play a role.
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