An association between subclinical hypothyroidism and sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the relationship between subclinical hypothyroidism (SCH) and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.


METHODS
A total of 1,170 type 2 diabetic patients were screened for thyroid function. There were 127 type 2 diabetic patients with SCH and 200 randomly selected euthyroid type 2 diabetic patients selected. Those with more severe than moderate nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy were classified as having sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR).


RESULTS
The trend for severe retinopathy was significantly higher in the SCH group than in the euthyroid group (chi(2) = 20.43, P = 0.000). SCH was associated with greater prevalence of diabetic retinopathy, especially STDR [odds ratio (95% CI): 4.15 (2.17-7.96), P = 0.000] after an adjustment for age, sex, duration of diabetes, A1C, BMI, hypertension, and LDL cholesterol. Even euthyroid patients with thyroid-stimulating hormone levels between 2.0 and <4.0 microIU/ml had a higher rate of STDR then those between 0.4 and <2.0 microIU/ml (P = 0.008).


CONCLUSIONS
Type 2 diabetic patients with SCH are associated with an increased risk of STDR.
Department of Endocrinology, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. jinkui.yang@gmail.com
Jin-Kui
JK
Yang
Wei
W
Liu
Jing
J
Shi
Yi-Bing
YB
Li
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D044466:Asian People / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007037:Hypothyroidism / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013972:Thyrotropin / Q000097:blood
D013972:Thyrotropin