Diabetic retinopathy in a multi-ethnic cohort in the United States.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in a multi-ethnic US population of whites, blacks, hispanics, and chinese.


METHODS
Cross-sectional study of 778 individuals from ages 45 to 85 years with diabetes, participating in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA).


METHODS
Retinal photographs were obtained with a 45 degrees nonmydriatic digital fundus camera. Presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy were graded at a central reading center on the basis of a modification of the Airlie House classification system. All participants underwent a standardized interview, examination, and laboratory investigations.


RESULTS
In this population with diabetes, the prevalence of any retinopathy was 33.2% and macular edema 9.0%. The prevalence of any diabetic retinopathy and macular edema was significantly higher in blacks (36.7% and 11.1%) and hispanics (37.4% and 10.7%) than in whites (24.8% and 2.7%) and chinese (25.7% and 8.9%) (P = .01 and P = .007, comparing racial/ethnic differences for retinopathy and macular edema, respectively). Significant independent predictors of any retinopathy were longer duration of diabetes, higher fasting serum glucose, use of diabetic oral medication or insulin, and greater waist-hip ratio. Race was not an independent predictor of any retinopathy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study provides contemporary data on the prevalence of and risk factors for diabetic retinopathy among whites, blacks, hispanics, and chinese participating in the MESA.
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, 32 Gisborne Street, Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia. twong@unimelb.edu.au
Tien Yin
TY
Wong
Ronald
R
Klein
F M Amirul
FM
Islam
Mary Frances
MF
Cotch
Aaron R
AR
Folsom
Barbara E K
BE
Klein
A Richey
AR
Sharrett
Steven
S
Shea
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People / Q000208:ethnology*; D044383:Black People / Q000208:ethnology*; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000208:ethnology*; D005260:Female; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000208:ethnology*; D006801:Humans; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000208:ethnology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012160:Retina / Q000473:pathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D044465:White People / Q000208:ethnology*; D001741:Black or African American