title: Sex differences in risk factors for retinopathy in non-diabetic men and women: the Tromsø Eye Study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the prevalence and risk factors for retinopathy in a nondiabetic population.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study population included 5869 participants without diabetes aged 38-87 years from the Tromsø Eye Study, a substudy of the population-based Tromsø Study in Norway. Retinal images from both eyes were graded for retinopathy. We collected data on risk factors from self-report questionnaires, clinical examinations, laboratory measurements and case note reviews. The cross-sectional relationship between potential risk factors and retinopathy was assessed using logistic regression analysis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall prevalence of retinopathy was 14.8%. Men had a higher prevalence of retinopathy compared with women (15.9% versus 14.0%, p=0.04). In men, retinopathy was associated with hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-2.04) and HbA1c (OR per %, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01-1.96). In women, retinopathy was associated with age (OR per 10 years, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14-1.52), log-transformed urinary albumin excretion (OR per log unit, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.14-1.87) and hypertension (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.71). In women, retinopathy was associated with very low levels of urinary albumin excretion (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio >0.43 mg/mmol).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study confirms results from previous studies on the strong association between blood pressure and retinopathy. A novel finding is the sex differences in risk factors for retinopathy, suggesting a sex difference in the pathogenesis leading to retinopathy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology and Neurosurgery, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, NorwayResearch Group of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases, Department of Community Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, NorwayNIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust and UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, London, UKDepartment of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Nephrology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Clinical Medicine, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, NorwayDepartment of Ophthalmology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, DenmarkBrain and Circulation Research Group, Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Tromsø, Tromsø, Norway.
authors.forename: Geir
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertelsen
authors.forename: Tunde
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Peto
authors.forename: Haakon
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lindekleiv
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Schirmer
authors.forename: Marit D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Solbu
authors.forename: Ingrid
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Toft
authors.forename: Anne Katrin
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sjølie
authors.forename: Inger
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Njølstad
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000419:Albuminuria / Q000453:epidemiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D012164:Retinal Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: blood pressure; cardiovascular disease; epidemiology; hypertension; microalbuminuria; prevalence; retinopathy; risk factors; urinary albumin excretion