BACKGROUND: In patients with type 2 diabetes, the presence of retinopathy is associated with increased cardiovascular disease, regardless of known risk factors for vascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its grades with the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 type 1 diabetes individuals asymptomatic for coronary artery disease. They underwent clinical evaluation for microvascular complications and for the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC). RESULTS: Severe forms of DR (severe non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR) were associated with CAC (OR: 3.98 95% CI 1.13-13.9, p = 0.03), regardless of known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (age, A1C, hypertension, dyslipidemia and male gender). CONCLUSION: Patients with severe forms of DR are at risk for the presence of coronary artery disease regardless of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
BACKGROUND: In patients with type 2 diabetes, the presence of retinopathy is associated with increased cardiovascular disease, regardless of known risk factors for vascular disease. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the association of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and its grades with the presence of subclinical coronary atherosclerosis in patients with type 1 diabetes. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 150 type 1 diabetes individuals asymptomatic for coronary artery disease. They underwent clinical evaluation for microvascular complications and for the presence of coronary artery calcification (CAC). RESULTS: Severe forms of DR (severe non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR) were associated with CAC (OR: 3.98 95% CI 1.13-13.9, p = 0.03), regardless of known risk factors for cardiovascular disease (age, A1C, hypertension, dyslipidemia and male gender). CONCLUSION:Patients with severe forms of DR are at risk for the presence of coronary artery disease regardless of traditional cardiovascular risk factors.
Authors: Julie A Lovshin; Petter Bjornstad; Leif E Lovblom; Johnny-Wei Bai; Yuliya Lytvyn; Geneviève Boulet; Mohammed A Farooqi; Sam Santiago; Andrej Orszag; Daniel Scarr; Alanna Weisman; Hillary A Keenan; Michael H Brent; Narinder Paul; Vera Bril; Bruce A Perkins; David Z I Cherney Journal: Diabetes Care Date: 2018-10-01 Impact factor: 19.112