Macular edema and retinal hard exudates in African Americans with type 1 diabetes: the New Jersey 725.
OBJECTIVE
To determine frequency and associated risk factors for macular edema and retinal hard exudates in hospitalized African Americans with type 1 diabetes.


METHODS
Included were 725 African Americans with type 1 diabetes who participated in the New Jersey 725. Clinical evaluations consisted of a structured clinical interview, ocular examination, stereoscopic fundus photographs, and blood pressure measurements. Presence of macular edema and hard exudates was determined via masked grading of fundus photographs. Biological evaluations included blood and urine assays.


RESULTS
Of the 725 patients, 89 (12.3%) had macular edema and 149 (20.6%) had retinal hard exudates in at least 1 eye. The presence of macular edema and hard exudates was significantly associated with older age at examination, longer duration of diabetes, and severity of diabetic retinopathy. Presence of proteinuria, missing insulin injections at least once a week, and longer duration of diabetes were significantly and independently associated with macular edema. Presence of proteinuria, male sex, higher low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, and longer duration of diabetes were significantly and independently associated with severity of retinal hard exudates.


CONCLUSIONS
Macular edema and hard exudates are common in African Americans with type 1 diabetes, particularly in patients with evidence of renal disease.
Roy
M S
MS
University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Department of Ophthalmology, 90 Bergen St, Room 6164, Newark, NJ 07103, USA.
Klein
R
R
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D044383:Black People; D019559:Capillary Leak Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D005122:Exudates and Transudates; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D008297:Male; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D010781:Photography; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D001741:Black or African American
D008055:Lipids