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.