Ryo Kawasaki1, Shiro Tanaka2, Sachiko Tanaka3, Sachi Abe4, Hirohito Sone5, Koutaro Yokote6, Shun Ishibashi7, Shigehiro Katayama8, Yasuo Ohashi9, Yasuo Akanuma10, Nobuhiro Yamada5, Hidetoshi Yamashita4. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan; Centre for Eye Research Australia, Royal Victorian Eye and Ear Hospital, East Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; Osaka Medical Center for Health Science and Promotion, Osaka, Japan. Electronic address: jdcstudy@md.tsukuba.ac.jp. 2. Department of Clinical Trial Design and Management, Translational Research Center, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. 3. EBM Research Center, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto, Japan. 4. Department of Ophthalmology, Yamagata University Faculty of Medicine, Yamagata, Japan. 5. Department of Internal Medicine, University of Tsukuba Institute of Clinical Medicine, Tsukuba, Ibaragi, Japan. 6. Department of Internal Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan. 7. Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Jichi Medical College, Shimono, Tochigi, Japan. 8. Department of Endocrinology and Diabetes, Saitama Medical University, Saitama, Japan. 9. Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Tokyo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo, Japan. 10. The Institute for Adult Diseases, Asahi Life Foundation, Cyouh-Ku, Tokyo, Japan.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is linked to cardiovascular risk in diabetic patients. This study examined whether mild-stage DR is associated with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in type 2 diabetic patients of the Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: In the JDCS, there were 2033 Japanese persons with type 2 diabetes free of cardiovascular diseases at baseline. METHODS: Diabetic retinopathy was ascertained from clinical and photographic grading (70%) following the international clinical diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema disease severity scales. Incident CHD and stroke were followed up prospectively annually up to 8 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eight-year incidence of CHD and stroke compared between persons with or without DR. RESULTS: After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, persons with mild to moderate nonproliferative DR had a higher risk of CHD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.97) and stroke (HR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.03-4.86). Presence of retinal hemorrhages or microaneurysms was associated with risk of CHD (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.04-2.56) but was not associated with stroke (P = 0.06). Presence of cotton-wool spots was associated with risk of incident stroke (HR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.35-4.24) but was not associated with CHD (P = 0.66). When information about DR was added in the prediction models for CHD and stroke based on traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the area under the receiver operating curve improved from 0.682 to 0.692 and 0.640 to 0.677, and 9% and 13% of persons were reclassified correctly for CHD and stroke, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabetic patients with even a mild stage of DR, such as dot hemorrhages, are already at higher risk of CHD and stroke independent of traditional risk factors.
OBJECTIVE:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is linked to cardiovascular risk in diabeticpatients. This study examined whether mild-stage DR is associated with risk of coronary heart disease (CHD) and stroke in type 2 diabeticpatients of the Japan Diabetes Complications Study (JDCS). DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. PARTICIPANTS: In the JDCS, there were 2033 Japanese persons with type 2 diabetes free of cardiovascular diseases at baseline. METHODS:Diabetic retinopathy was ascertained from clinical and photographic grading (70%) following the international clinical diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema disease severity scales. Incident CHD and stroke were followed up prospectively annually up to 8 years. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Eight-year incidence of CHD and stroke compared between persons with or without DR. RESULTS: After adjusting for traditional cardiovascular risk factors, persons with mild to moderate nonproliferative DR had a higher risk of CHD (hazard ratio [HR], 1.69; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.17-2.97) and stroke (HR, 2.69; 95% CI, 1.03-4.86). Presence of retinal hemorrhages or microaneurysms was associated with risk of CHD (HR, 1.63; 95% CI, 1.04-2.56) but was not associated with stroke (P = 0.06). Presence of cotton-wool spots was associated with risk of incident stroke (HR, 2.39; 95% CI, 1.35-4.24) but was not associated with CHD (P = 0.66). When information about DR was added in the prediction models for CHD and stroke based on traditional cardiovascular risk factors, the area under the receiver operating curve improved from 0.682 to 0.692 and 0.640 to 0.677, and 9% and 13% of persons were reclassified correctly for CHD and stroke, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Type 2 diabeticpatients with even a mild stage of DR, such as dot hemorrhages, are already at higher risk of CHD and stroke independent of traditional risk factors.
Authors: Natalie A Bello; Marc A Pfeffer; Hicham Skali; Janet B McGill; Jerome Rossert; Kurt A Olson; Larry Weinrauch; Mark E Cooper; Dick de Zeeuw; Peter Rossing; John J V McMurray; Scott D Solomon Journal: BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care Date: 2014-04-06