Association between remnant cholesterol levels and incident diabetic retinopathy in middle-aged and older patients with diabetes / 中华内科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective:To investigate the association between remnant cholesterol (RC) and the risk of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in middle-aged and older individuals with diabetes.Methods:Based on the Shanghai Nicheng Cohort Study database, the data of 1 255 individuals with diabetes aged 55-70 years at baseline (2013-2014) with complete fundus photographs and serum cholesterol data in Nicheng, Shanghai, were analyzed. Multinomial logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk ratios ( RRs) and their 95% confidence intervals ( CIs) between baseline RC level and incident DR. Results:The median age of the subjects was 61.9 years, and 60.4% were women. After a 4.6-year follow-up, 79 (6.3%) patients developed DR, including 50 (4.0%) mild non-proliferative DR and 29 (2.3%) referable DR (RDR). Multivariable logistic regression showed that each mmol/L increase of RC was associated with a 40% higher risk of RDR ( RR=1.40, 95% CI 1.03-1.90). Compared with the lowest tertile of RC (<0.63 mmol/L), the risk of RDR in the highest tertile (≥0.85 mmol/L) increased by 4.59 times ( RR=5.59, 95% CI 1.51-20.73). Conclusion:The RC level may help identify individuals at high risk of incident RDR in middle-aged and older Chinese adults with diabetes.