Prevalence and incidence of retinopathy in elderly diabetic patients receiving early diagnosis and treatment

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the most common and specific complications of diabetes. Thus, intervention is required to lower the incidence and prevalence of sight-threatening retinopathy. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and incidence of diabetic retinopathy in elderly diabetic patients receiving early diagnosis and proper treatment and to explore risk factors for DR. From May 2005 to May 2011, fundus examination was performed for elderly diabetic patients during routine medical examinations. The presence of a microaneurysm or more severe presentations was used to diagnose DR, which was followed by fundus fluorescein angiography. Logistic regression analysis was employed to analyze the risk factors for DR development within 5 years. A total of 2,194 diabetic patients were recruited and followed-up for a mean of 5.8 years. The prevalence of DR was 15.38–16.20% and the incidence of DR was 8.38/1,000 person-years. Logistic multiple stepwise regression revealed that fasting plasma glucose (FPG), mean arterial pressure (MAP), duration of diabetes, body mass index (BMI) and microalbuminuria (MAU) were significantly associated with the occurrence of DR (all P<0.05). In the present study, the prevalence and incidence of DM were higher compared with those reported in the general population; however, the prevalence and incidence of DR were lower compared with those reported in similar studies. This suggests that favorable control of blood glucose, blood pressure and blood lipids effectively prevents the occurrence of DR in diabetic patients.