Association of serum lipids with diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes

A total number of 140 type 2 diabetic patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR) were enrolled in the study from diabetic clinic during May 2011 till June 2012 to determine correlation between severity of DR with serum lipid and other modifiable risk factors in type 2 diabetic patients. Information including age, sex, height, body weight, body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and systolic and diastolic blood pressure was collected from each patient. Fasting plasma sugar, low density lipoprotein (LDL), triglyceride level (TG), high density lipoprotein (HDL), glycated hemoglobin (HbA1C), creatinine, and 24 h urinary albumin excretion was done for each patient. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was measured by modification of diet in renal disease (MDRD) equation. Patients were divided in five groups according to retinopathy status based on early treatment DR study (ETDRS) disease severity level. Statistical analysis was performed with Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) statistical software (version 17.0 for Windows). The alpha level was set at P = 0.05 for all tests. Statistically significant positive correlation between severity of DR with systolic blood pressure P = 0.005 (r = 0.974), diastolic blood pressure P = 0.001(r = 0.994), LDL P = 0.005 (r = 0.976), TG P = 0.001 (r = 0.990), and 24 h urinary albumin P = 0.004 (r = 0.977) was documented. DR was also strongly positively correlated with smoking P = 0.017 (r = 0.941) and duration of diabetes P = 0.003 (r = 0.981). There was strong inverse correlation of DR with HDL P = 0.001 (r = -0.994) and eGFR P = 0.002 (r = -0.987). Serum lipids were significantly correlated with severity of DR.