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Severity of background retinopathy in Type 1 diabetes increases with the level of long‐term glycated haemoglobin
Author(s) -
Kullberg Carin E.,
Finnström Kerstin,
Arnqvist Hans J.
Publication year - 1994
Publication title -
acta ophthalmologica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.534
H-Index - 87
eISSN - 1755-3768
pISSN - 1755-375X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1755-3768.1994.tb05014.x
Subject(s) - medicine , retinopathy , microangiopathy , diabetes mellitus , diabetic retinopathy , glycated hemoglobin , type 2 diabetes , ophthalmology , endocrinology
The relationship between severity of background retinopathy, and prior long‐term glycaemic control was studied. Ninety patients with background retinopathy and Type 1 diabetes mellitus, diabetes duration ≤25 years, and HbA 1c monitored >5 years (on average 9.2 years with 32 HbA 1c measurements) were included. All patients had microaenurysms/haemorrhages, 33 had hard exudates, 27 soft exudates, 8 IRMA (intraretinal microangiopathy), three venous beading, and no patient had macula oedema. Patients with mean HbA 1c > 8% had higher relative risks for all kinds of background retinopathy, compared to patients with HbA 1c ≤7%. In multiple regression analysis, long‐term glycated haemoglobin had significant impact on all types of background retinopathy. Women had lower scores for all types of background retinopathy. No sex differences in HbA 1c , age, or duration were found. We conclude that poor long‐term glycaemic control is a major risk factor for all types of background retinopathy.