ABSTRACT
Aim: To evaluate the association between serum lipids and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in type 2 diabetic subjects. Study Design: Cross-sectional observational study. Place and Duration of Study: Diabetes and Ophthalmology units of the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana, between September 2011 and June 2012. Methodology: Serum levels of total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) were assessed in 251 type 2 diabetic mellitus patients. Diagnosis and classification of diabetic retinopathy was based on dilated ophthalmoscopy. Classification of lipid abnormalities was done according to the National Cholesterol Education Programme-Adult Treatment Panel 111 (NCEP-ATP111) Guidelines. Results: Among 251 type 2 diabetic mellitus patients, 41.0% had retinopathy of which 31% were of the non-proliferative type and 10% were proliferative. The mean ± SD age of the diabetics with retinopathy was 52.64±11.80 years; their mean duration of diabetes was 17.69±4.06 years. Subjects with DR were older (P<0.001), had longer duration of diabetes (P<0.001) and higher fasting blood glucose (P<0.001) than those without DR. HDL-C level (P=0.016) was lower, and TC (P<0.001), TG (P<0.001) and LDL-C levels (P<0.001) were higher in subjects with diabetic retinopathy (DR) compared with those without diabetic retinopathy. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that unadjusted TC (odds ratio [OR] 3.57 [95% CI 4.471-12.26] P<0.001), TG (odds ratio [OR] 2.25 [95% CI 1.54-3.2] P<0.0001), HDL-C (odds ratio [OR] 0.664 [95% CI 0 .471- 0.938] P=0.020), and LDL-C (odds ratio [OR] 2.97 [95% CI 2.22-3.96] P<0.001) were associated with DR. After adjusting for age and duration of diabetes, only TC (odds ratio [OR] 4.00 [95% CI 1.12-14.25], P=0.032) maintained a significant association with DR. However, after adjusting for fasting blood glucose (FBG), the association of TC (odds ratio [OR] 30.73 [95% CI 0.018-53.68] P=0.36) with DR lost its significance. Conclusion: Our analyses suggest that there is no significant association between serum lipids with DR in Ghanaians patients with Type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, further studies are needed to confirm this finding.
ABSTRACT
A study was carried out at the department of Ophthalmology and Otorhinolaryngology at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital/School of Medical Sciences; at Kumasi Ghana from March 29th to May 29th 2006 to study visual acuity changes in patients suspected of solar eclipse retinopathy after they viewed an eclipse of the sun on 29th March 2006. In all; seven patients with eye complaints were seen. Examination included assessment of Visual Acuity (VA); Slit Lamp examination; Fundoscopy; Amsle Test; Intra-ocular pressure evaluation and Goldman's Tonometre Test. Six patients had normal visual acuity while only one had VA of 6/24 in both eyes; which was corrected. All patients had normal colour vision and normal Amlser grid. None of them had any evidence of Maculopathy. 3 patients had superficial punctuate Keratitis. The absence of solar burns of the macular observed in the region is indicative of the effectiveness of mass public education concerning the damaging effects of the solar eclipse. Advanced techniques; such as scanning laser Ophthalmoscopy and the multifocal electroretinography (ERG) offer the possibility of detailed examination of small retina lesions in Ghana after an eclipse of the sun
Subject(s)
Signs and Symptoms , Visual AcuityABSTRACT
The ethnobotanical uses and mode of administration of twenty-nine medicinal plants; found in the arboretum of the Plant Genetic Resource Centre located at Bunso in the eastern region of Ghana; against some disease conditions are hereby documented