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Association between spousal diabetes status and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes
Mei Yang1, Yu Liu2, Cuihong Wen2
11 Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Renji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China.
Purpose:
To evaluate the association between spousal diabetes status and the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.
Methods:
A cross-sectional community-based study was performed in 1510 patients with type 2 diabetes in Shanghai, China. Non-mydriatic digital fundus photography was used to detect diabetic retinopathy. Spousal diabetes status was assessed using a standardised interview questionnaire.
Results:
The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was significantly lower in patients who had diabetic spouses, compared with those who did not (20.2% vs 29.1%, p ⩽ 0.01). The fully adjusted odds ratio for diabetic retinopathy in those had diabetic spouses was decreased by 36% (odds ratio = 0.64, 95% confidence interval = 0.42-1.00, p = 0.048). The negative correlation between spousal diabetes status and diabetic retinopathy was presented in patients with the duration of diabetes ⩾ 10 years, those with HbA1c ⩾ 7% and those not using lipid-lowering drugs (odds ratio = 0.31, 95% confidence interval = 0.13-0.74, p = 0.0082; odds ratio = 0.50, 95% confidence interval = 0.27-0.94, p = 0.031; odds ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.92, p = 0.021, respectively).
Conclusion:
We demonstrated that spousal diabetes was associated with a lower diabetic retinopathy prevalence in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.
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