Association between spousal diabetes status and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes. (September 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Mei; Liu, Yu; Wen, Cuihong; Wu, Beirui; Wan, Xu; Luan, Wei; Shen, Jie; Liu, Wei; Ma, Jing
• Is Part Of: Diabetes & vascular disease research. Volume 16:Number 5(2019:Sep.)
• Page Start: 474
• Page End: 477
• Publication Date: 2019-09
• Subjects: Spouse -- diabetic retinopathy -- type 2 diabetes; Diabetic angiopathies -- Periodicals; 616.462005
• DOI: 10.1177/1479164119844695
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1479-1641

Abstract

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.