Prevalence and Risk Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy: In First Fundus Examined Diabetic Patients

ABSTRACT

We performed a epidemiologic study to find a prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy. We reviewed 130 diabetic patients who had been performed the fundus examination for the first time for retinopathy at the ophthalmic department of Chung Ang university hospital from March 1993 to December 1993. We studied epidemiologic work-up sheet and performed ophthalmic and laboratory examination. The patients' ages ranged from 25 to 81 years, with an average age of 58.9 years. The age, sex, intraocular pressure, fasting blood sugar, post cibos 2 hours (Pc2hrs), age of onset, residence, smoking, alcohol drinking, diet pattern, blood type, treatment method and menstruation status were not significantly correlated with prevalence of diabetic retinopathy statistically(p>0.05). But the duration of diabetes(p<0.01), glycosylated hemoglobin(HbA1C) and cataract operation(p<0.05) were significantly correlated with diabetic retinopathy statisically. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 28.5%(background changes in 21.5%, preproliferative changes in 4.6% and proliferative change in 2.4%). The mean interval between diagnosis of diabetes and the first examination of retinopathy was 6.62 years.