The analysis of risk factors of proliferative diabetic retinopathy

Objective To investigate the risk factors of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) patients of 10 years or more duration in Guangdong province. Methods A total of 144 type 2 DM of 10 years or more duration from Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center and the Department of Endocrinology of the First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University were divided into PDR group and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) group, and then investigated by case-control study. To analyze the factors associated with PDR from the factors of demographic characteristics, behavioral habits, past disease history, diabetes family history, blood pressure and glycated hemoglobin by X 2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results Univariate analysis showed that younger age (OR=0.25, P=0.000), lower educated (OR=2.42, P=0.013), diabetic nephropathy (OR=2.80, P=0.01), diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN) (OR=2.56, P=0.008), less exercise (OR=2.55, P=0.006), hypertension (OR=2.31, P=0.014) and smoking (OR=3.96, P=0.001) were associated with PDR. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed younger age (OR=0.92, P=0.000), lower educated (OR=2.64, P=0.021), DPN (OR=2.36, P=0.036) and smoking (OR=3.27, P=0.013) were associated with PDR. Conclusions Young age, low education, smoking and DPN are the risk factors of PDR in type 2 DM patients of 10 years or more duration. Ophthalmologists should follow up DM patients of young age, less educated, smoking and DPN frequently and let patients pay more attention to lifestyle. Key words: Diabetic retinopathy;  Proliferative diabetic retinopathy;  Case-control study;  Risk factors