[Prevalence and risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy in Santander. Northern Spain]

To assess the prevalence and risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Cantabria.

ross-sectional population based study.

Health center of Cantabria.

A random sample of 442 patients with type 2 diabetes.

Non-mydiatric retinography, classifying them according to the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale. The analyzed risk factors were: age, gender, age at diabetes onset, duration of diabetes, glycated haemoglobin levels (A1C), treatment of diabetes, blood pressure (systolic and diastolic), serum lipids concentration, body mass index, smoking status, hematocrit, pregnancy, serum vitamin D (25 OH D) levels, nephropathy and cardiovascular events.

The prevalence of DR was 8.56% (CI: 5.81-11.32): Mild non-proliferative DR: 5.07% (CI: 2.89-7.25); Moderate non-proliferative DR: 1.38% (CI: 0.17-2.60); Severe non-proliferative DR: 0.27% (CI: 0.006-1.28); proliferative DR: 1.84% (CI: 0.46-3.22). Diabetic macular oedema: 2.30% (CI: 0.77-3.83). Mean age: 70 years, mean diagnostic age: 58.97 years, mean body mass index 29.86, 78.40% patients with hypertension, 67.30% dyslipidemia and median A1C: 6.7%. A deficit of 25 (OH) D was identified in 77% of patients. In the multivariate analysis, treatment of type 2 diabetes, body mass index, duration of diabetes and metabolic control of glycaemia were identified as independent risk factors.

The prevalence of DR, compared with former studies, has decreased to 8.56%; this decrease is associated with the improvement in the control of modifiable risk factors. The associated independent risk factors were: treatment, body mass index, duration and control of diabetes. The variables antihypertensive treatment, cardiovascular events and nephropathy showed predictive value for DR.