title: Diabetic retinopathy in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus in Jordan: prevalence and associated factors.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  To determine the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Jordan, as well as the factors associated with DR.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted among 127 consecutive newly diagnosed (within the past 6 months) patients with T2DM attending one of two diabetic care centers. Complete ocular examinations were performed by an ophthalmologist and relevant data were collected. A fundus examination was performed using slit lamp indirect ophthalmoscopy after pupillary dilation with 1% tropicamide drops, with DR defined and classified according to the scale developed by the Global Diabetic Retinopathy Project Group.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the patients examined, 7.9% had DR. Of those with DR, 40% already had clinically significant macular edema necessitating laser photocoagulation or intravitreal injections. Multivariate analysis revealed that age and HbA1c were significantly associated with DR. The odds of DR increased by 11% for each 1 year increase in age (odds ratio [OR] 1.11; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.02-1.20). For each 1% increase in HbA1c, the odds of DR increased by 43% (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.09-1.88).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Fewer than one-tenth of newly diagnosed Jordanian patients with T2DM had DR, but more than one-third of these patients had significant maculopathy. Therefore, early screening is strongly recommended for all newly diagnosed T2DM patients. Increased age and HbA1c values are associated with increased odds of DR. A study with a larger sample size is needed to elucidate the risk factors for DR in newly diagnosed T2DM.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, Jordan University of Science and Technology, Irbid, Jordan. hishamjammal@hotmail.com
authors.forename: Hisham
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Jammal
authors.forename: Yousef
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Khader
authors.forename: Shadi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Alkhatib
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abujbara
authors.forename: Mousa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alomari
authors.forename: Kamel
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ajlouni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007597:Jordan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors