Lens opacity and mortality in diabetes.
A population-based cohort of 294 diabetic patients were examined for the presence of lens opacities and followed up for a median of 6 years. Only two patients were lost to follow-up but there were 73 deaths, 49 in the 108 patients with opacities and 24 in the 184 patients without (odds ratio 2.4, 95% Cl 1.5-3.9). Lens opacities were a powerful predictor of death and the effect was independent of other prognostic factors. The presence of cataract identifies a high risk sub-group of elderly diabetic patients.
Cohen
D L
DL
Department of Geriatric Medicine, Radcliffe Infirmary, Oxford, UK.
Neil
H A
HA
Sparrow
J
J
Thorogood
M
M
Mann
J I
JI
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D048909:Diabetes Complications; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000401:mortality*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis