ABSTRACT
Diabetic retinopathy [DR] is one of the important causes of comorbidity in diabetic patients. Considering the cost of this complication to the health care system, this study was performed to assess the prevalence and identify its risk factors. In this cross-sectional study, 261 diabetic patients, who referred to Kamkar hospital diabetes clinic in Qom, Iran, were investigated. Personal information, data about diabetes, physical examination and laboratory tests were collected in questionnaires. Foundoscopy with dilated pupil was performed by practicing ophthalmologists and findings were categorized according to international classification of diabetic retinopathy. The mean age was 52.2 +/- 11.5 years, and 66% were female. The mean duration of diabetes was 9.08 +/- 7.14 years and the mean HbA1C was 9.25 +/- 2. The overall prevalence of diabetic retinopathy [DR] was 39.1%, which included 15.3% with mild Non proliferative DR [NPDR], 7.7% with moderate NPDR, 4.6% with severe NPDR and 11.5% with proliferative DR [PDR]. Comparison of variables between DR and Non-DR groups shows that the mean of age, duration of diabetes, HbA1C, protein excretion in 24h urine were statistically significantly higher in retinopathic group [p=<0.001, p<0.001, p<0.005 and p<0.01]. Also, the percent of patients with history of hypertension, nephropathy and peripheral distal neuropathy was significantly higher in retinopathic group [p<0.05, p<0.001 and p<0.001]. In final analysis with logistic regression model, duration of diabetes and nephropathy were recognized as independent risk factors for diabetic retinopathy. According to the results of this study, screening of all diabetic patients in early stages of retinopathy, identify and control of its risk factors to decrease the burden of eye complications and improve the quality of life for these patients are important