Does retinopathy predict stroke recurrence in type 2 diabetes patients: A retrospective study?

AIMS: To study if retinopathy increases the risk of stroke recurrence in stroke patients with type 2 diabetes. Also, to study if stroke patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of stroke recurrence compared to non-diabetics and if stroke patients with type 2 diabetes, regardless of retinopathy, have a higher incidence of carotid stenosis. Also, to study if stroke patients with type 2 diabetes retinopathy have increased incidence of carotid stenosis. METHODS: We included 445 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and a matched control group of 445 patients without diabetes, who had all suffered their first stroke or TIA. Information on retinopathy, risk factors and stroke recurrence were obtained from registers and medical records. RESULTS: Retinopathy did not increase the risk of stroke recurrence in diabetes patients, HR 0.89 (0.51–1.53), p = 0.67. The risk of stroke recurrence was not increased in diabetics compared to non-diabetes. Diabetes patients had an increased prevalence of carotid stenosis compared to non-diabetics, 1.69 (1.15–2.48), p = 0.008. The prevalence of carotid stenosis in diabetics with retinopathy was not increased compared to diabetics without retinopathy. CONCLUSION: Retinopathy is not a predictor of stroke recurrence or carotid stenosis in type 2 diabetes patients.