Open AccessAssociation of glucose metabolism and retinopathy signs in non-diabetic individuals in midlife—The Northern Finland Birth Cohort 1966 study
Author(s) -
Anni Saunajoki,
Juha Auvinen,
Ville Saarela,
JanneJoonas Uusitalo,
Ilmari Leiviskä,
Sirkka KeinänenKiukaanniemi,
Johanna Liinamaa,
Markku Timonen
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
plos one
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.99
H-Index - 332
ISSN - 1932-6203
DOI - 10.1371/journal.pone.0240983
Subject(s) - medicine , retinopathy , diabetic retinopathy , diabetes mellitus , blood pressure , insulin , cohort , type 2 diabetes , population , cohort study , endocrinology , environmental health
Diabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of hyperglycaemia. Little is known about the association of glucose metabolism and retinopathy signs in the non-diabetic middle-aged population. We studied prevalence of retinopathy in a subsample of Northern Finland Birth Cohort study (NFBC1966) of 1809 subjects, at 47 years of age, without previously diagnosed type 2 diabetes and/or blood pressure-lowering medication. All participants underwent clinical evaluations including an oral glucose tolerance test (glucose and insulin values measured at 0, 30, 60 and 120 min) and HbA 1c . The retinopathy signs were diagnosed by fundus photographs and classified according to the Eurodiab classification scheme. The overall prevalence of newly diagnosed retinopathy was 1.4%. The retinopathy signs were significantly associated with increased 30 min, 1-h and 2-h glucose levels and 2-h insulin level in an OGTT. After adjustment with systolic blood pressure, only 30 min glucose, 1-h glucose and 2-h insulin levels were associated with retinopathy signs. Our findings show the potential role of 30 min and 1-h post-load glucose and 2-h insulin levels as risk factors for retinopathy lesions among the participants without previously diagnosed diabetes or hypertensive medication.