Diabetic retinopathy risk factors in patients with diabetic foot: A small case study

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy is the result of the microvascular mani- festations of retinal blood vessels due to diabetes and is the main visual impairment cause in the working-age population in developed countries having high prevalence in people at risk for diabetic ulceration or with dia- betic ulceration.

Aim: The aim of the present study was the exploration of the DR clinical and biochemical risk factors in patients at risk for diabetic ulceration or with diabetic ulceration.

Materials and Methods: Α cross- sectional research was conducted from October 2005 to November 2016. One-hundred-thirty-four persons with type 1 and 2 diabetes, at risk for foot ulceration or with active foot ulcer/s participated.

Results: Ninety-two- point-three percent of the research subjects had type 2 diabetes, 57.9% peripheral neuropathy, 40.0% PAD, 44.8% active foot ulceration, 37.5% history of cataract, while 40.4% history of retinopathy. The univariate lo- gistic regression analysis was significant (P≤.05) for somatic sensorimotor peripheral neuropathy (OR 3.94, 95% CI 1.51-10.27, P=.005), nephropathy (OR 6.22, 95% CI 1.69-22.87, P=.006), tablets and insulin (OR 5.54, 95% CI 1.61-19.07, P=.007), and insulin (OR 3.45, 95% CI 1.15-10.38, P=.028). As for the multivariate logistic regression analysis, only the tablets and insulin combination was significant (OR 10.47, 95% CI 1.25-87.78, P=.030)

Conclusions: Diabetic retinopathy has a high prevalence in people at risk for diabetic ulceration or with diabetic ulceration. For the better prevention of diabetic retinopathy, healthcare professionals should be aware of the high likelihood of persons with persistent hyperglycemia and long-term diabetes to have diabetic retinopathy.