The Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy. XV. The long-term incidence of macular edema.
BACKGROUND
As part of a population-based study of diabetes mellitus, the incidence of macular edema over a 10-year period and its relation to various risk factors are examined.


METHODS
There were 891 younger-onset people with a diagnosis of having had diabetes before 30 years of age who were taking insulin at baseline examination and 987 older-onset people with a diagnosis of having had diabetes at 30 years of age or older who participated in baseline and 4-year examinations. Of these, 765 younger-onset and 533 older-onset people also participated in a 10-year examination. The presence of macular edema at baseline and follow-up examinations was determined from gradings of stereoscopic fundus photographs.


RESULTS
The incidence of macular edema over the 10-year period was 20.1% in the younger-onset group, 25.4% in the older-onset group taking insulin, and 13.9% in the older-onset group not taking insulin. The incidence of macular edema over the 10-year period was associated with higher levels of glycosylated hemoglobin and more severe retinopathy in both younger- and older-onset groups, and with being female and increased diastolic blood pressure in the older-onset group.


CONCLUSIONS
These data suggest a relatively high incidence of macular edema. The authors' data also suggest that a reduction in hyperglycemia may result in a beneficial decrease in the incidence of macular edema.
Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin Medical School, Madison.
R
R
Klein
B E
BE
Klein
S E
SE
Moss
K J
KJ
Cruickshanks
D000328:Adult; D017668:Age of Onset; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000188:drug therapy; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003971:Diastole; D004487:Edema / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008266:Macula Lutea; D008297:Male; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D012737:Sex Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014922:Wisconsin
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; D007328:Insulin