RETINOPATHY IN NEWLY DIAGNOSED TYP 2 DIABETEC PATIENTS IN ISFAHAN, PREVALENCE AND RISK FACTORS

Retinopathy is one of the microvascular complications of diabetes which is strongly related to the glycemic control and duration of the disease. According to results of other studies, the prevalence of retinopathy has been reported 5-30% in newly diagnosed patients whit type 2 diabetes (T2DM). The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of idabeteic retinopathy among newly diagnosed T2DM patients in Isfahan, Iran. From july 2001 to March 2004, 710 newly diagnosed patients with T2DM were recruited in this study. Patients with duration of diabetes less than 1 year were considered as newly diagnosed ones. Along with physical examination and laboratory measurment for FBS, HbA1c, lipid profile, urea, Creatinin, and 24 houre urin examniation for albumin, retinoscopy was performed by an experienced ophttalmologist. In this study, 286 men and 424 women were investigated. The mean age of patients at presentation and the mean duration time of diabetes were 48.8 ±9.8 years (range 31-72years) and 8.6±5.4 months respectively. The prevalence of retinopathy was 9 % (9/8% in males and 8.5% in females). Logistic regression analysis revealed that BMI, diastolic blood pressure and 24 hour urine albumin, were independent risk factors for developing retinopathy. Nevertheless of relatively moderate prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in our study as compared with other studies, it is necessary to perform retinal examination in newly diagnosed T2DM patients in order to prevent the sight-threatening outcomes of diabetic retinopathy.