The Diabetes Control and Complications Trial (DCCT) demonstrated that intensive therapy reduced the development and progression of retinopathy in type 1 diabetes (T1D) compared with conventional therapy. The Epidemiology of Diabetes Interventions and Complications (EDIC) study observational follow-up showed persistent benefits. In addition to glycemia, we now examine other potential retinopathy risk factors (modifiable and nonmodifiable) over more than 30 years of follow-up in DCCT/EDIC. The retinopathy outcomes were proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), clinically significant macular edema (CSME), and ocular surgery. The survival (event-free) probability was estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Cox proportional hazards models assessed the association between risk factors and subsequent risk of retinopathy. Both forward- and backward-selection approaches determined the multivariable models. Rate of ocular events per 1,000 person-years was 12 for PDR, 14.5 for CSME, and 7.6 for ocular surgeries. Approximately 65%, 60%, and 70% of participants remained free of PDR, CSME, and ocular surgery, respectively. The greatest risk factors for PDR in descending order were higher mean HbA , longer duration of T1D, elevated albumin excretion rate (AER), and higher mean diastolic blood pressure (DBP). For CSME, risk factors, in descending order, were higher mean HbA , longer duration of T1D, and greater age and DBP and, for ocular surgeries, were higher mean HbA , older age, and longer duration of T1D. Mean HbA was the strongest risk factor for the progression of retinopathy. Although glycemic control is important, elevated AER and DBP were other modifiable risk factors associated with the progression of retinopathy.
Reference Type
Journal Article
Periodical Full
Diabetes care
Publication Year
2019
Volume
42
Issue
5
Start Page
875
Other Pages
882
Publisher
American Diabetes Association
Place of Publication
United States
ISSN/ISBN
0149-5992
Document Object Index
10.2337/dc18-2308
URL
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30833368 https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/30833368