Systolic and Diastolic Blood Pressure Are Independent Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

Abstract

Background and aims: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a microvascular complication of diabetes and represents the leading cause of blindness in working-age adults. The aim of this study was to investigate the risk factors for DR in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) with and without diabetic nephropathy (DN). Methods: A total of 160 patients with T2DM were included in the study. Photodocumented retinopathy status was determined according to the EURODIAB protocol. Renal function was determined using creatinine-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR). Binary univariate and multiple logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the main predictors of DR. Results: The prevalence of DR in this studied sample was 46.3%. No significant correlation was observed between DR and age, body mass index, serum lipids, and renal function. Binary logistic regression analysis (no DR/DR) showed that longer diabetes duration (p = 0.008), poor glycemic control (HbA1c) (p = 0.008), higher systolic blood pressure (p = 0.001), and diastolic blood pressure (p = 0.003) were the main predictors of DR in patients with T2DM. However, the influence of systolic blood pressure (AOR = 1.06, p = 0.004) and diastolic blood pressure (AOR = 1.12, p = 0.007) on DR development remained significant even after adjustment for diabetes duration and HbA1c. Conclusions: Our results suggest that systolic and diastolic blood pressure are independent risk factors for DR in patients with T2DM.