Validation of an Automated Screening System for Diabetic Retinopathy Operating under Real Clinical Conditions.

BACKGROUND: Retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. It is the leading cause of blindness among working-aged people in developed countries. The use of telemedicine in the screening system has enabled the application of large-scale population-based programs for early retinopathy detection in diabetic patients. However, the need to support ophthalmologists with other trained personnel remains a barrier to broadening its implementation. METHODS: Automatic diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy was carried out through the analysis of retinal photographs using the 2iRetinex software. We compared the categorical diagnoses of absence/presence of retinopathy issued by family physicians (PCP) with the same categories provided by the algorithm (ALG). The agreed diagnosis of three specialist ophthalmologists is used as the reference standard (OPH). RESULTS: There were 653 of 3520 patients diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Diabetic retinopathy threatening to vision (STDR) was found in 82 patients (2.3%). Diagnostic sensitivity for STDR was 94% (ALG) and 95% (PCP). No patient with proliferating or severe DR was misdiagnosed in both strategies. The k-value of the agreement between the ALG and OPH was 0.5462, while between PCP and OPH was 0.5251 (p = 0.4291). CONCLUSIONS: The diagnostic capacity of 2iRetinex operating under normal clinical conditions is comparable to screening physicians.

Socioeconomic deprivation and development of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

INTRODUCTION: Very little is known about the influence of socioeconomic status on type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) complications. Our aim was to determine whether socioeconomic level is a risk factor for the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with T1DM. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A cohort of 150 patients with T1DM were studied prospectively over 9 years. Socioeconomic status was assessed using a neighborhood-level measure based on an index of deprivation. The contribution of other variables such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetic nephropathy and smoking habit was evaluated. Cox proportional hazards models were used to quantify the associations. RESULTS: The incidence of DR was 21.6 cases per 1000 patient-years. Multivariable analyses showed that for each percentage point increase in glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), the risk of developing DR increased by 58% (HR 1.58, 95% CI 1.19 to 2.10).Patients with T1DM onset >18 years of age and resident in areas of lower socioeconomic levels presented with almost triple the risk of developing DR (HR 2.95, 95% CI 1.08 to 8.00) compared with those with onset <18 years of age and resident in less deprived areas. We did not find significant relationships with other variables studied such as hypertension, dyslipidemia, diabetic nephropathy and smoking habit. CONCLUSIONS: Low socioeconomic level is a risk factor, independent of glycemic control, in the development of DR in patients with T1DM when the onset of diabetes is in adulthood. This finding indicates that socioeconomic status and age of onset need to be considered in population screening for DR in patients with T1DM.

Nocturnal blood pressure is associated with the progression of microvascular complications and hypertension in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus.

AIMS: To evaluate relationships between early alterations in blood pressure and the progression of microvascular complications of diabetes in clinically-normotensive patients with type 1 diabetes (T1DM). METHODS: In a prospective observational study of 85 normotensive T1DM patients without microalbuminuria, blood pressure (BP) was monitored over 24h using the ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) system at baseline and 7years later. Development or progression of microalbuminuria, retinopathy and hypertension was evaluated. RESULTS: Initially, 20 patients (24%) were diagnosed with masked hypertension and 31 (37%) with non-dipper pattern as the only pathological findings. At 7years: 1) twenty-seven patients (32%) had progression of retinopathy related to the nocturnal diastolic blood pressure (BPD) (OR:1.122; p=0.034) and final non-dipper pattern (OR:5.857; p=0.005); 2) seven patients (10%) developed microalbuminuria for which nocturnal systolic blood pressure (BPS) was a risk factor (OR:1.129; p=0.007); 3) five of the normotensive patients (9%) progressed to hypertension; historic HbA1c (OR:2.767; p=0.046) and nocturnal BPD (OR:1.243; p=0.046) being the related risk factors. BPD level ≥65mmHg was associated with an increase in progression of retinopathy and hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: In T1DM patients there is an elevated prevalence of BP alterations, detected using ABPM. Alterations in nocturnal BP predispose to development/progression of microvascular complications and overt hypertension.

Association between SNPs of Metalloproteinases and Prostaglandin F2α Receptor Genes and Latanoprost Response in Open-Angle Glaucoma.

PURPOSE: To determine whether single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of genes coding for matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and the prostaglandin F2α receptor gene (PTGFR) are related to a response to latanoprost in a white Spanish population of glaucomatous patients. DESIGN: Case-control study. PARTICIPANTS: One hundred twenty-four patients with open-angle glaucoma. METHODS: Genotyping was performed in 117 patients with primary open-angle glaucoma with a minimum treatment duration of 4 weeks. Candidate genes and individual polymorphisms were selected according to the effect on the mechanism of action of latanoprost. Multi-SNP haplotype analyses for associations also were tested. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Diurnal intraocular pressure reduction and genotyping of the SNPs in the MMPs and PTGFR. RESULTS: The PTGFR SNPs were associated with positive (rs6686438, rs10786455) and negative (rs3753380, rs6672484, rs11578155) responses to latanoprost. Multiple testing found 2 genes, PTGFR and MMP-1, were related to refractoriness to latanoprost. CONCLUSIONS: The SNPs of the PTGFR and MMP-1 genes may determine the latanoprost response in a white European Spanish population. This study identified 5 SNPs related to the latanoprost response; 1 SNP, rs3753380, already has been associated with a poor response to latanoprost in a healthy Japanese population. Latanoprost is a commonly used antiglaucomatous drug, and increased knowledge of its mechanism of action will lead to advances in pharmacogenetics.

High prevalence of inactivity among young patients with type 1 diabetes in south Spain.

OBJECTIVES: To describe usual physical activity level and analyze its association with metabolic control and presence of microvascular complications in a cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM-1) in south Spain. METHODS: Observational, cross-sectional study that included one hundred thirty patients, aged 33.9 ± 11.5 years-old with disease duration of 16.5 ± 9.5 years that consecutively were recruited among patients attending the Endocrinology Service of Puerta del Mar University Hospital (Cádiz, Spain). Usual physical activity level was assessed using the "General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire" (GPPAQ) together with clinical, anthropometric, metabolic parameters and microvascular complications. RESULTS: DM-1 patients were grouped in four categories of physical activity level: inactive (n = 33; 25.3%), moderately inactive (n = 31; 23.8%), moderately active (n = 26; 20.0%) and active (n = 40; 30.9%). We observed no significant differences in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level between the different physical activity groups analyzed. Patients classified as moderately active and active were more often men, significantly younger and presented lower plasmatic levels of triglycerides than patients classified as inactive or moderately inactive, with no differences in other clinical or anthropometric variables. In addition, active and moderately active patients had a lower prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and microvascular complications in general compared to inactive or moderately inactive patients. CONCLUSIONS: Half of patients with type 1 diabetes evaluated were classified as inactive and these patients had a higher prevalence of diabetic retinopathy than active patients. No difference in HbA1c levels was documented among different groups of physical activity.

Objetivos: Describir el nivel de actividad física habitual y analizar su asociación con el control metabólico y la presencia de complicaciones microvasculares en una cohorte de pacientes con diabetes tipo 1 (DM-1) del sur de España. Métodos: Estudio transversal observacional que incluyó ciento treinta pacientes de 33,9 ± 11,5 años de edad y una duración de la enfermedad de 16,5 ± 9,5 años que fueron reclutados consecutivamente en el Servicio de Endocrinología del Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar (Cádiz, España). El nivel de actividad física habitual fue evaluado utilizando el "General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire" (GPPAQ) conjuntamente con diversos parámetros clínicos, antropométricos, metabólicos y de complicaciones microvasculares. Resultados: Los pacientes con DM-1 fueron agrupados en cuatro categorías de nivel de actividad física: inactivo (n = 33; 25,3%), moderadamente inactivo (n = 31; 23,8%), moderadamente activo (n = 26; 20,0%) y activo (n = 40; 30,9%). No observamos diferencias significativas en el nivel de hemoglobina glucosilada (HbA1c) entre los diferentes grupos de actividad física analizados. Los pacientes clasificados como moderadamente activos y activos fueron con mayor probabilidad hombres, más jóvenes y con menores niveles plasmáticos de triglicéridos que los pacientes clasificados como inactivos o moderadamente inactivos, sin encontrarse diferencias en otras variables clínicas o antropométricas. Adicionalmente, los pacientes activos y moderadamente activos tenían una menor prevalencia de retinopatía diabética y de complicaciones microvasculares en general comparados con los pacientes inactivos o moderadamente inactivos. Conclusiones: La mitad de los pacientes con DM-1 evaluados fueron clasificados como inactivos y estos pacientes tenían mayor prevalencia de retinopatía diabética que los pacientes activos. No fueron documentadas diferencias en los niveles de HbA1c entre los diferentes grupos de actividad física.

High prevalence of inactivity among young patients with type 1 diabetes in south Spain / Elevada prevalencia de inactividad física en pacientes jóvenes con diabetes tipo 1 del sur de España

Objectives: To describe usual physical activity level and analyze its association with metabolic control and presence of microvascular complications in a cohort of patients with type 1 diabetes (DM-1) in south Spain. Methods: Observational, cross-sectional study that included one hundred thirty patients, aged 33.9 ± 11.5 years-old with disease duration of 16.5 ± 9.5 years that consecutively were recruited among patients attending the Endocrinology Service of Puerta del Mar University Hospital (Cádiz, Spain). Usual physical activity level was assessed using the «General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire» (GPPAQ) together with clinical, anthropometric, metabolic parameters and microvascular complications. Results: DM-1 patients were grouped in four categories of physical activity level: inactive (n = 33; 25.3%), moderately inactive (n = 31; 23.8%), moderately active (n = 26; 20.0%) and active (n = 40; 30.9%). We observed no significant differences in glycated haemoglobin (HbA1c) level between the different physical activity groups analyzed. Patients classified as moderately active and active were more often men, significantly younger and presented lower plasmatic levels of triglycerides than patients classified as inactive or moderately inactive, with no differences in other clinical or anthropometric variables. In addition, active and moderately active patients had a lower prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and microvascular complications in general compared to inactive or moderately inactive patients. Conclusions: Half of patients with type 1 diabetes evaluated were classified as inactive and these patients had a higher prevalence of diabetic retinopathy than active patients. No difference in HbA1c levels was documented among different groups of physical activity (AU)

Objetivos: Describir el nivel de actividad física habitual y analizar su asociación con el control metabólico y la presencia de complicaciones microvasculares en una cohorte de pacientes con diabetes tipo 1 (DM-1) del sur de España. Métodos: Estudio transversal observacional que incluyó ciento treinta pacientes de 33,9 ± 11,5 años de edad y una duración de la enfermedad de 16,5 ± 9,5 años que fueron reclutados consecutivamente en el Servicio de Endocrinología del Hospital Universitario Puerta del Mar (Cádiz, España). El nivel de actividad física habitual fue evaluado utilizando el «General Practice Physical Activity Questionnaire» (GPPAQ) conjuntamente con diversos parámetros clínicos, antropométricos, metabólicos y de complicaciones microvasculares. Resultados: Los pacientes con DM-1 fueron agrupados en cuatro categorías de nivel de actividad física: inactivo (n = 33; 25,3%), moderadamente inactivo (n = 31; 23,8%), moderadamente activo (n = 26; 20,0%) y activo (n = 40; 30,9%). No observamos diferencias significativas en el nivel de hemoglobina glucosilada (HbA1c) entre los diferentes grupos de actividad física analizados. Los pacientes clasificados como moderadamente activos y activos fueron con mayor probabilidad hombres, más jóvenes y con menores niveles plasmáticos de triglicéridos que los pacientes clasificados como inactivos o moderadamente inactivos, sin encontrarse diferencias en otras variables clínicas o antropométricas. Adicionalmente, los pacientes activos y moderadamente activos tenían una menor prevalencia de retinopatía diabética y de complicaciones microvasculares en general comparados con los pacientes inactivos o moderadamente inactivos. Conclusiones: La mitad de los pacientes con DM-1 evaluados fueron clasificados como inactivos y estos pacientes tenían mayor prevalencia de retinopatía diabética que los pacientes activos. No fueron documentadas diferencias en los niveles de HbA1c entre los diferentes grupos de actividad física (AU)