title: Co-morbidity in patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To describe the level of co-morbidity in patients with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in the United Kingdom.
  
  
  METHODS
  Questionnaires were completed by patients undergoing first photocoagulation treatment for diabetic maculopathy or proliferative retinopathy during a 2 month period throughout the UK.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Overall 15% of patients described angina, 9% had suffered a myocardial infarction and 6% a stroke. Self-reported renal disease was present in 8.5%. Foot ulceration was described by 10% of patients, and 4% had undergone an amputation. 35.5% of patients were on treatment for hypertension. 17.5% of patients had been hospitalised in the previous 6 months, and 3% of patients had died within 9 months of the laser treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  There was significant co-morbidity in these patients, which may affect the management of their retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Royal College of Ophthalmologists, London, UK. ccbailey@doctors.org.uk
authors.forename: C C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Sparrow
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000671:Amputation, Surgical / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D000787:Angina Pectoris / Q000453:epidemiology; D015897:Comorbidity; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D016523:Foot Ulcer / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D007674:Kidney Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology; D017075:Laser Coagulation; D008268:Macular Degeneration / Q000453:epidemiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009203:Myocardial Infarction / Q000453:epidemiology*; D020521:Stroke / Q000453:epidemiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000601:surgery