Open AccessNormal-to-mildly increased albuminuria predicts the risk for diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes
Author(s) -
Min Kyung Lee,
Kyung Do Han,
Jae Hyuk Lee,
Seo Young Sohn,
Oak Kee Hong,
Jee Sun Jeong,
Mee Kyoung Kim,
Ki Hyun Baek,
Ki Ho Song,
Hyuk Sang Kwon
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
scientific reports
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.24
H-Index - 213
ISSN - 2045-2322
DOI - 10.1038/s41598-017-11906-6
Subject(s) - albuminuria , medicine , diabetic retinopathy , type 2 diabetes , diabetes mellitus , creatinine , retinopathy , microalbuminuria , endocrinology , gastroenterology
Albuminuria is closely associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR), but the precise role of the albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) in screening for DR remains to be determined. This study aimed to investigate an ACR threshold for predicting DR in patients with type 2 diabetes. A cross-sectional study was conducted on 1,102 type 2 diabetes patients, aged ≥30 years and recruited from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2010–2011. Participants were grouped by stage of DR: mild-to-moderate nonproliferative DR (NPDR), severe NPDR, and proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR). An early morning spot urine sample was obtained for ACR measurement. ROC curve analysis revealed that the optimal cut-off value of ACR for predicting DR was 2.26 mg/mmol (20 μg/mg). The prevalence of ACR ≥ 2.26 mg/mmol tended to increase with severity of DR. The risk for DR in patients with ACR ≥ 2.26 mg/mmol was higher than in those with ACR < 2.26 mg/mmol. The risk for severe NPDR and PDR also increased at ACR ≥ 2.26 mg/mmol. Normal-to-mildly increased albuminuria (an ACR of 2.26 mg/mmol) may predict the risk for DR development and progression in patients with type 2 diabetes.