Use of Anthropometric Measures of Obesity to Predict Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes in China

PURPOSE: Obesity is an established risk factor for type 2 diabetes (T2D). Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of T2D. In this cross-sectional study, we investigated the association between various anthropometric indices of obesity and DR. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A representative sample of 1952 patients with T2D participated in this cross-sectional study conducted in Shanghai, China. Anthropometric measures of obesity including weight, height, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index (BMI), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-to-height ratio (WHtR) were evaluated. The association between WHtR, WHR, and BMI and the presence of DR was examined with logistic regression models. RESULTS: The prevalence of DR was higher in T2D patients with high WHtR compared to those with normal WHtR (p<0.05). A higher BMI was associated with elevated risk of DR (model 1, p=0.034; model 2, p=0.036). WHR was unrelated to the occurrence of DR (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: WHtR and BMI but not WHR are risk factors for DR in obese patients with T2D. Patients with high WHtR and BMI should be closely monitored to prevent the development of DR.