title: Diabetic retinopathy in native and nonnative Canadians.
abstract: High prevalence rates of type 2 diabetes are being observed in native Canadian communities. It is believed that native populations have a higher prevalence rate of vascular complications than nonnatives. The Southern Alberta Study of Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) examined the prevalence and incidence of DR and associated metabolic abnormalities in native and nonnative subjects. Prevalence rates of DR in type 2 diabetic native and nonnative subjects were identical, with a prevalence rate of 40%. Native subjects with retinopathy, however, tended to have more advanced changes of retinopathy compared to the nonnative subjects. Key factors such as A1c, blood pressure, duration of diabetes, and lipid values were not significantly different between the two cohorts. These data indicate that ethnicity does play a role in the development and severity of DR but potential risk factors that may affect the development of retinopathy are not significantly different between native and nonnative groups.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of medicine, University of Calgary, # 238-4411 16th Ave NW, Calgary, AB, Canada. drross@telus.net
authors.forename: Stuart A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Ross
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: McKenna
authors.forename: Sheila
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mozejko
authors.forename: Gordon H
authors.initials: GH
authors.lastname: Fick
mesh_terms: D000416:Alberta; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity