Leading predictor of progression to PDR in Latinos is diabetes duration

This prospective study found that having diabetes for more than 15 years increased the risk of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) in Latino diabetics 20 times, and male gender increased it 4 times.

In the United States, the Latino population has a high prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) with a high risk of resultant microvascular complications. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is 2 to 2.5 times greater in this population than in other populations in the U.S. However, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, the risk factors for developing PDR in an exclusively Latino population have never been described.

In this study, the authors analyzed the demographic and personal risk factors for development of PDR in 729 self-identified Latinos with previously diagnosed DM. Some demographic data was collected retrospectively. One cohort of patients (the cases) had PDR and a known diagnosis of DM for at least 10 years. The control cohort had a known diagnosis of DM for at least 10 years but no DR or minimal nonproliferative DR.

The mean age of patients without DR was 56.38 years compared with 57.43 years for those with PDR. Multivariate analysis showed having diabetes longer than 15 years carried a 20-time higher risk of progression to PDR; male gender, a 4-time higher risk; and hypertension, a 1.64-time higher risk. Cholesterol levels and glycosylated hemoglobin were not significant predictors.

They conclude that these observations may be of value in future investigations, particularly because the Latino population in the United States is expected to double by the year 2025.