title: Body mass index: a risk factor for retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether body mass index (BMI) independently or in correlation with other risk factors is associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) progression. The study included 545 patients with type 2 diabetes. According to DR status, they were divided into three groups: group 1 (no retinopathy; n = 296), group 2 (mild/moderate nonproliferative DR; n = 118), and group 3 (severe/very severe NPDR or proliferative DR; n = 131). Patients without DR were younger than those with signs of retinopathy at time of diabetes onset whilst diabetes duration was longer in groups with severe NPDR and PDR. DR progression was correlated with diabetes duration, BMI, HbA1c, hypertension, and cholesterol. Statistical analyses showed that the progression of retinopathy increased significantly with higher BMI (gr. 1: 26.50 ± 2.70, gr. 2: 28.11 ± 3.00, gr. 3: 28.69 ± 2.50; P < 0.01). We observed a significant deterioration of HbA1c and a significant increase in cholesterol and hypertension with an increase in BMI. Correlation between BMI and triglycerides was not significant. Thus, BMI in correlation with HbA1c cholesterol and hypertension appears to be associated with the progression of DR in type 2 diabetes and may serve as a predictive factor for the development of this important cause of visual loss in developed countries.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Snježana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kaštelan
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University Clinic Vuk Vrhovac, Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zajčeva 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Martina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Tomić
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital Dubrovnik, Dr. Roka Mišetića 2, 20000 Dubrovnik, Croatia.
authors.forename: Antonela
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gverović Antunica
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology and Metabolic Diseases, University Clinic Vuk Vrhovac, Clinical Hospital Merkur, Zajčeva 19, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Spomenka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ljubić
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Avenija Gojka Šuška 6, 10000 Zagreb, Croatia.
authors.forename: Jasminka
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Salopek Rabatić
authors.affiliation: University of Applied Sciences Velika Gorica, Zagrebačka Cesta 5, 10410 Velika Gorica, Croatia.
authors.forename: Mirela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Karabatić
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001794:Blood Pressure; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002784:Cholesterol; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human