Clinical features of diabetes retinopathy in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes in Northern Chinese

Objective: The objective was to estimate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of diabetes retinopathy (DR) in elderly individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Northern Chinese.Materials and Methods: 595 eligible subjects (263 men, 332 women) assisted by the community health service center in Beijing, China were involved with averaged 70.6 ± 8.8 years old and male ratio is 0.44. All subjects were interviewed face to face by questionnaire and underwent the extensive physical examinations including ophthalmologic and systemic conditions.Results: Prevalence of DR was 17.1% and DR was significantly associated with nephropathy (odds ratio [OR]: 4.17, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.829–17.577, P = 0.001), arteriosclerosis of retina (OR: 0.41, 95% CI: 0.207–1.102, P = 0.01), diabetic foot gangrene, (OR: 5.32, 95% CI: 1.674–30.063, P = 0.001), diabetic neuropathy (OR: 5.23, 95% CI: 2.896–17.334, P = 0.001), hypertension (HTN) (OR: 1.70, 95% CI: 0.990–3.923, P = 0.05). Clinical characteristics of DR by risk factors analysis were polydipsia (OR: 2.73, 95% CI: 1.716–6.567, P = 0.001), polyuria (OR: 2.06, 95% CI: 1.303–5.005, P = 0.001), polyphagia (OR: 1.80, 95% CI: 1.127–4.499, P = 0.01), weakness (OR: 2.00, 95% CI: 1.264–4.825, P = 0.001), high blood lipid (45.76%), high blood sugar (22.89%), and renal dysfunction (12.33%).Conclusions: Diabetes retinopathy in elderly diabetes patients in Northern Chinese is prevalent and associated with these chronic complications such as HTN, nephropathy, arteriosclerosis of retina, diabetic foot gangrene, and diabetic neuropathy.Key words: Diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, elderly, Northern Chines