title: Development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and associated risk factors in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes: the experience of a tertiary center.
abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of and risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and progression to proliferative DR (PDR) in Korean patients. Patients diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and followed for more than 5 years at a university-based clinic since 2000 were consecutively enrolled in this retrospective cohort study. Based on the DR classification at the initial and final visits, the incidence and progression of DR was determined and patient characteristics were compared according to DR progression. Hazard ratios of each putative risk factor for DR progression were calculated with a multivariate Cox proportional hazard model. Rate of DR development and progression to PDR were 32.1/1,000 and 26.2/1,000 person-years, respectively. A longer duration of diabetes and higher mean HbA1c level were significant risk factors for the development of DR. Regarding progression to PDR, higher mean HbA1c level, higher standard deviation of HbA1c, and higher urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio were significant risk factors. The rates of development of DR and progression to PDR in Koreans with type 2 diabetes are lower than those reported over the last decade. An inadequate blood glycemic control is the common risk factor for development and progression of DR.
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Yoon Jeon
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-4293-9641
authors.initials: YJ
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: June-Gone
authors.identifier: 0000-0003-1181-941X
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joo Yong
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2187-196X
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Kyoung Sub
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-1854-7616
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Soo Geun
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6525-7243
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Joe
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Joong-Yeol
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-9823-407X
authors.initials: JY
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Min-Seon
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-4881-0390
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea.
authors.forename: Young Hee
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2849-7528
authors.initials: YH
authors.lastname: Yoon
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015984:Causality; D015897:Comorbidity; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D056910:Republic of Korea / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2; Diabetic Retinopathy; Koreans