[Relationship between retinopathy development and systemic factors in type 2 childhood diabetes]

To clarify the relationship between systemic factors and the development of retinopathy in patients with type 2 childhood diabetes.

We evaluated the relationship between retinopathy incidence and systemic factors (i.e., sex, age at diagnosis, and mean HbA(1c)) in 36 patients (11 boys and 25 girls).

Ten of the 36 cases (28%) developed retinopathy during a mean observation period of 7 years and 11 months. Retinopathy was found only in female patients. The mean HbA(1c) value correlated significantly with the onset of retinopathy. The incidence of retinopathy in the patients with mean HbA(1c) values less than 8.0% was 0% at 5 and 10 years, and 5% at 15 years. On the other hand, the incidence of retinopathy in the patients with mean HbA(1c) values of 8.0% or more was 44% at 5 years, and 56% at 10 and 15 years after the diagnosis of diabetes.

As female patients with mean HbA(1c) values of 8.0% or more have a high risk of developing retinopathy, strict blood glucose control and frequent ophthalmologic examinations are necessary.