title: Physical activity and its correlation to diabetic retinopathy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The lack of physical activity, along with obesity, smoking, hypertension and hyperglycaemia are considered as risk factors for the occurrence of diseases such as diabetes. Primary objective of the study was to investigate potential correlation between physical activity and diabetic retinopathy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Three hundred and twenty patients were included in the study: 240 patients with diabetes type 2 (80 patients with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy, 80 patients with severe to very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and 80 ones with proliferative diabetic retinopathy) were compared with 80 non-diabetic patients (control group). Physical activity of patients was assessed by the international physical activity questionnaire (IPAQ, 2002). HbA1c and BMI were also measured in diabetic patients. Group comparisons were attempted for levels of physical activity and sedentary behavior.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Total physical activity was decreased in patients with severe to very severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and proliferative diabetic retinopathy as compared to patients with mild to moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy and to the control group (p<0.05). Significant negative correlation was detected between HbA1c levels, BMI and physical activity (both p<0.05). Moreover, significant negative correlation between the severity of diabetic retinopathy and physical activity has been demonstrated (p<0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased physical activity is associated with less severe levels of diabetic retinopathy, independent of the effects of HbA1c and BMI.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece. Electronic address: praidou2003@yahoo.co.uk.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Praidou
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Ophthalmology, Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Harris
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece.
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Niakas
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Social Sciences, Hellenic Open University, Patra, Greece; Dept. of Ophthalmology, Democritus University of Thrace, Alexandroupolis, Greece.
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Labiris
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018450:Disease Progression; D004739:England / Q000453:epidemiology; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006943:Hyperglycemia / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance; D012307:Risk Factors; D057185:Sedentary Behavior; D057566:Self Report; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D018630:Vitreoretinopathy, Proliferative / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin; C517652:hemoglobin A1c protein, human
keywords: BMI; Diabetic retinopathy; HbA1c; International physical activity questionnaire; Physical activity; Sedentary behavior