Diabetic retinopathy is associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
We aimed to evaluate the association between diabetic microangiopathy and subclinical atherosclerosis as a marker of cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes.


METHODS
A total of 142 newly diagnosed type 2 diabetics who were free from CVD underwent evaluation of diabetic microangiopathy. Subclinical atherosclerosis was assessed by measuring carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and the 10-year absolute risk of CVD was estimated using the UK Prospective Diabetes Study (UKPDS) Risk Engine.


RESULTS
Subclinical atherosclerosis was found in 27 subjects (19.0%). The rates of hypertension and diabetic retinopathy were significantly higher among patients with subclinical atherosclerosis. The UKPDS 10-year risk for CVD was significantly increased in subjects with subclinical atherosclerosis. Old age, hypertension and the presence of diabetic retinopathy showed a significant association to subclinical atherosclerosis after further adjustments for gender, body mass index, smoking status, HbA1c, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and the presence of diabetic nephropathy.


CONCLUSIONS
This study shows that diabetic retinopathy is an independent risk marker for subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes. We suggest that a diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy may warrant a more careful cardiovascular assessment even in the early stages of diabetes.
Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Mary's Hospital, The Catholic University of Korea, # 62, Yeoido-dong, Yeoung deungpo-gu, Seoul 150-713, Republic of Korea.
Jang-Won
JW
Son
Eun-Hee
EH
Jang
Mee-Kyoung
MK
Kim
In Tae
IT
Kim
Young Jung
YJ
Roh
Ki-Hyun
KH
Baek
Ki-Ho
KH
Song
Kun-Ho
KH
Yoon
Bong-Yun
BY
Cha
Kwang-Woo
KW
Lee
Ho-Young
HY
Son
Hyuk-Sang
HS
Kwon
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology