Endocrine Abstracts

Background: Diabetic retinopathy represents a major cause of the blindness worldwide. A variety of risk factors has been identified in several population, but to date, comprehensive data concerning our particular risk factors are lacking. The aim of the study was to determine the risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in Moroccan type 2 diabetic patients and to determine the threshold of HbA1c predicting retinopathy.

Materials and methods: All patients 18 years or older diagnosed as type 2 diabetes and who were able to complete the laboratory data and retinal examination were invited to participate in the study. The diabetic retinopathy was classified by the ETDRS severity scale. Data were collected about duration of diabetes, smoking status, medications, evidence of macrovascular disease, blood pressure, nephropathy or neuropathy and actual therapeutics. Laboratory parameters included: HbA1c, lipid panel and microalbuminuria. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS 16.0. The association between DR and each of the risk factors was assessed by bivariate analysis. A multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to check the effect of independent variables on DR. the predictors on the binary logistic regression model were disease duration, HbA1c, systolic blood pressure, nephropathy, neuropathy and evidence of macrovascular disease.

Results: A total of 231 patients were included. The bivariate analysis has identified as risk factor for diabetic retinopathy: microvascular and macrovascular diabetic complications, presence of hypertension, duration of disease, glycemic control and insulin use. The multivariate regression analysis retrieved as independent risk factors: glycosylated hemoglobin >7% (OR: 2.71 95% CI 1.06–7.43), microalbuminuria (OR: 2.6 95% CI 1.2–5.4), diabetes duration(per 10 years) (OR: 2.6 95% CI 1.2–5.4) and blood pressure (per 10 mmgh) (OR: 1.27 95% CI 1–1.70).

Conclusion: Our study found similar factors to those described for other populations. We emphasize on the important role of early medical intervention and adequate therapeutic education especially concerning the glycemic and blood pressure control.