Risk factors of diabetic retinopathy - a cross sectional study from Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi.

Objective: To assess the major risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in patients presenting to the eye OPD of the Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Study Design: Descriptive Cross-sectional study. Setting: Department of Ophthalmology, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi. Period: March 2018 to September 2018. Material & Methods: 330 patients presenting at the diabetic clinic of Holy Family Hospital aged between 30-70 years with both type I and type II diabetes for ≥5 years (diagnosed by checking fasting blood sugar or HbA1C). History including age, gender, weight, height, duration of diabetes mellitus and control of diabetes mellitus was taken on a pre-designed proforma. Slit lamp examination was performed by the consultant ophthalmologist to check for Diabetic Retinopathy (NPDR and PDR). Results: Mean age of the patients was 50.4±9.8. Patients were distributed according to the age groups showing that 56(56%) of the patients were diabetics, 61(49.9%) with NPDR and 48(48%) with PDR in the 30-50 year group. While 51-70 year group included 44(44%) diabetics, 69(53.1%) with NPDR and 52(52%) with PDR. There was no significant association between history of hypertension and diabetic retinopathy (p=0.804) or BMI and diabetic retinopathy (p=0.451). There was significant association between diabetic retinopathy and duration of diabetes (p=0.035) as well as diabetic retinopathy and Hb1Ac levels (p=0.001). Gender variations were statistically significant (p=0.001), with females being more affected than males. Conclusion: Diabetic retinopathy is strongly associated with female gender, longer duration of diabetes and poor glycemic control. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]