title: Predictive factors of diabetic complications: a possible link between family history of diabetes and diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study was assessment of predictive factors of diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was designed by recruiting 1228 type 2 diabetic patients from a diabetes referral clinic over a six-month period (from July to December, 2012). Diabetes risk factors, complications, laboratory results have been recorded.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of the 1228 diabetic patients (54% women, mean age 58.48 ± 9.94 years), prevalence of diabetes retinopathy was 26.6%. There were significant associations between retinopathy and family history of diabetes (p = 0.04), hypertension (p = 0.0001), diabetic duration (p = 0.0001), poor glycemic control (p = 0.0001) and age of onset of diabetes (p = 0.0001). However, no significant associations were found between retinopathy with dyslipidemia and obesity. In logistic regression model, poor glycemic control (p = 0.014), hypertension (p = 0.0001), duration of diabetes (p = 0.0001) and family history of diabetes (p = 0.012) independently predicted retinopathy after adjustment for age and sex.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic complications are resulting from an interaction from genes and environmental factors. A family history of diabetes is pointing toward a possible genetic and epigenetic basis for diabetic retinopathy. Our findings suggest the role of epigenetic modifications and metabolic memory in diabetic retinopathy in subjects with family history of diabetes.
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute of Tehran University of medical sciences, Postal address; EMRI, 5th floor, Shariati Hospital, North Karegar avenue, P.O Box: 1411413137, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Zhila
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Maghbooli
authors.affiliation: Biochem, Department Faculty of Medicine Tehran University of medical sciences, Postal address; EMRI, 5th floor, Shariati Hospital, North Karegar avenue, P.O Box: 1411413137, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Parvin
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasalar
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute of Tehran University of medical sciences, Postal address; EMRI, 5th floor, Shariati Hospital, North Karegar avenue, P.O Box: 1411413137, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Abbasali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Keshtkar
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Population Sciences Institute of Tehran University of medical sciences, 4th floor, No. 4, Ostad Nejatollahi St, Enqelab Ave, 1599666615 Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Farzadfar
authors.affiliation: Endocrinology and Metabolism Clinical Sciences Institute of Tehran University of medical sciences, Postal address; EMRI, 5th floor, Shariati Hospital, North Karegar avenue, P.O Box: 1411413137, Tehran, Iran.
authors.forename: Bagher
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larijani
keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; Epigenetic; Family history of diabetes