Three-year incidence and cumulative prevalence of retinopathy: the atherosclerosis risk in communities study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the three-year incidence and cumulative prevalence of retinopathy and its risk factors.


METHODS
Population-based, prospective cohort study in four US communities.


METHODS
In the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) Study, 981 participants had retinal photography of one randomly selected eye at the third examination (1993 to 1995) and three years later at the fourth examination (1996). Photographs were graded on both occasions for retinopathy signs (for example, microaneurysm, retinal hemorrhage, and/or cotton-wool spots). Incidence was defined as participants without retinopathy at the third examination who developed retinopathy at the fourth examination, and cumulative prevalence was defined to include incident retinopathy as well as participants who had retinopathy at both the third and fourth examinations.


RESULTS
The three-year incidence and cumulative prevalence of any retinopathy in the whole cohort was 3.8% and 7.7%, respectively. In multivariable analysis, incident retinopathy was related to higher mean arterial blood pressure (odds ratio [OR] 1.5, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0 to 2.3, per standard deviation increase in risk factor levels), fasting serum glucose (OR 1.6, 95% CI 1.3 to 2.1), serum total cholesterol (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.0, 2.0), and plasma fibrinogen (OR 1.4, 95% CI 1.1 to 1.9). Among persons without diabetes, the three-year incidence and cumulative prevalence of nondiabetic retinopathy was 2.9% and 4.3%, respectively. Incident nondiabetic retinopathy was related to higher mean arterial blood pressure (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9 to 2.3) and fasting serum glucose (OR 1.5, 95% CI 1.0 to 2.3). Among persons with diabetes, the three-year incidence and cumulative prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 10.1% and 27.2%, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
Retinopathy signs occur frequently in middle-aged people, even in those without diabetes. Hypertension and hyperglycemia are risk factors for incident retinopathy.
Wong
Tien Y
TY
Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. twong@unimelb.edu.au
Klein
Ronald
R
Amirul Islam
F M
FM
Cotch
Mary Frances
MF
Couper
David J
DJ
Klein
Barbara E K
BE
Hubbard
Larry D
LD
Sharrett
A Richey
AR
D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005340:Fibrinogen / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000453:epidemiology; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005340:Fibrinogen; D002784:Cholesterol