title: Association between diabetic retinopathy and subclinical atherosclerosis in China: Results from a community-based study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the association of diabetic retinopathy with subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged and elderly Chinese with type 2 diabetes.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional community-based study was performed among 1607 patients aged 40 years or older in Shanghai. Non-mydriatic digital fundus photography examination was used in diabetic retinopathy detection. Presence of elevated carotid intima-media thickness or carotid plaque was defined as subclinical atherosclerosis.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 15.1% in total patients. Patients with diabetic retinopathy were more likely to have elevated carotid intima-media thickness, carotid plaque and subclinical atherosclerosis than those without diabetic retinopathy (37.9% vs 30.7%, 57.6% vs 49.6% and 64.6% vs 57.1%, respectively). The presence of diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with increased odds of subclinical atherosclerosis (odds ratio = 1.93, 95% confidence interval = 1.03-3.60) after full adjustments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The presence of diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with subclinical atherosclerosis in middle-aged and elderly patients with type 2 diabetics in China.
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Renji Hospital South Campus, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Renji Hospital South Campus, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Xiangyu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Teng
authors.affiliation: Meilong Health Center, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Meilong Health Center, Shanghai, China.
authors.forename: Ruifeng
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Department of Endocrinology, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Shanghai, China sue_liuwei@163.com.
authors.forename: Wei
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Liu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D044466:Asian People; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications* / Q000209:etiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors
keywords: Diabetic retinopathy; subclinical atherosclerosis; type 2 diabetes