PREVALENCE OF DIABETIC-RETINOPATHY IN RELATION TO AGE AT ONSET OF THEDIABETES, TREATMENT, DURATION AND GLYCEMIC CONTROL

To study the frequency of diabetic retinopathy in relation to age at d iagnosis, treatment, duration of diabetes and glycemic control as meas ured by means of HbA(1c) levels, we performed a cross-sectional, regis ter-based study in the Helsingborg area of southern Sweden, comprising 2232 diabetic patients. Of the known diabetic population < 75 years o ld, approximately 70% were estimated to be included. We graded retinop athy according to the alternative classification of the Wisconsin stud y. With an age at diagnosis < 30 years (19% of patients) the prevalenc e of retinopathy was 64%, whereas with an age at diagnosis greater tha n or equal to 30 years the prevalence of retinopathy was 57% in insuli n-treated, and 26% in non-insulin treated patients. Levels of glycated hemoglobin and duration of diabetes were associated with retinopathy in the group with younger onset. In the older-onset group, there was a relationship between retinopathy and duration of diabetes and insulin treatment; glycated hemoglobin had a relationship which was of border line significance with any retinopathy, but clearly significant with t he pooled group: severe non-proliferative, proliferative retinopathy a nd/or macular edema. Hyperglycemia and duration of diabetes were thus associated with retinopathy in both younger- and older-onset diabetes, but hyperglycemia less so in the older-onset group.