Factors associated with non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes: the Japan Diabetes Complication and its Prevention prospective study (JDCP study 4)

AimsThis study aims to identify associations of non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) in the Japan Diabetes Complication and its Prevention prospective (JDCP) study, a nation-wide study capturing real-world practice for diabetes in Japan.MethodsWe recruited patients with type 1 and type 2 diabetes mellitus aged between 40 and 75years from 464 hospitals and clinics. Seven thousand and seven hundred patients fulfilled the inclusion criteria, and 5852 patients were included for this specific analysis. Multiple logistic regression models were used to identify associated factors of NPDR.ResultsOf the 363 patients with type 1 diabetes, 83 patients (22.8%) had NPDR; there were significant associations of duration of diabetes and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol with the presence of NPDR. Of the 5489 patients with type 2 diabetes, 1515 (27.6%) had NPDR. Female, duration of diabetes, lifetime maximum body weight, treatment types, systolic blood pressure, and the number of oral hypoglycemic agents (OHA) and antihypertensive drug were associated with increased odds of having NPDR. Diastolic BP, body mass index, alcohol intake, and the number of lipid-lowering drugs were associated with lower odds of having NPDR. Statin and fibrate use was associated with lower odds of having NPDR; this association was confirmed in the model adjusting for the propensity score for taking fibrate or statin (odds ratio 0.80, 95% confidence interval 0.70-0.92; p=0.002).ConclusionsThere was a potential protective association of lipid-lowering medication (statin or fibrate) and statin use and the presence of NPDR in patients with type 2 diabetes in the JDCP study.