The relation between retinopathy and albumin excretion rate in insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. From the Funen County Epidemiology of Type 1 Diabetes Complications Survey.

In a population-based patient material of 138 insulin-dependent diabetics aged 25-34 years, and with a diabetes onset before 30 years of age, the relation between retinopathy and albumin excretion rate was studied. The prevalence rate of any retinopathy was 59% (81) and of proliferative retinopathy 17% (23). After 10 years' duration of diabetes, the prevalence of any retinopathy increased steeply and reached a maximum of about 90% after more than 20 years. Very few patients had proliferative retinopathy during the first 20 years, followed by a gradual increase in prevalence up to 40-50% after 25 years. Twenty-one percent (29) of the study population was found to have an increased urinary albumin excretion rate. These patients were found to have a statistically significant increase in frequency of retinopathy (p < 0.01) -and in particular of proliferative retinopathy -with increasing levels of urinary albumin excretion. Our results suggest a need for more frequent screening for diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients with than without increased albumin excretion rate.