This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: bjo.2006.093393v1 90/11/1404    most recent Submit a response Alert me when this article is cited Alert me when eLetters are posted Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this link to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Add article to my folders Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Knudsen, L L Articles by Gorst-Rasmussen, A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Knudsen, L L Articles by Gorst-Rasmussen, A

The North Jutland County Diabetic Retinopathy Study: population characteristics

¹ Department of Ophthalmology, Aalborg Sygehus South, Aarhus University Hospital, Hobrovej, Aalborg, Denmark
² Department of Medical Endocrinology, Aalborg Sygehus North, Aarhus University Hospital
³ Department of Mathematical Sciences, Aalborg University, Aalborg

Correspondence to:
Correspondence to:
L L Knudsen
Department of Ophthalmology, Aalborg Sygehus South, Aarhus University Hospital, Hobrovej 18-22, Aalborg DK-9100, Denmark; u19204{at}aas.nja.dk

Background: Several population-based studies have reported blood glucose levels and blood pressure to be risk factors for the development of diabetic retinopathy. These studies were initiated more than two decades ago and may therefore reflect the treatment and population composition of a previous era, suggesting new studies of the present population with diabetes.

Aim and methods: This cross-section study included 656 people with type 1 diabetes and 328 with type 2 diabetes. Crude prevalence rates of proliferative diabetic retinopathy, clinically significant macular oedema and several specific retinal lesions were assessed, together with their association to a simplified and internationally approved retinal grading.

Results: The point prevalence of proliferative retinopathy was found to be 0.8% and 0.3% for type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Equivalent prevalence rates of clinically significant macular oedema were 7.9% and 12.8%, respectively. The most frequently occurring retinal manifestations increased in number until retinopathy level 3, and then decreased.

Conclusion: The point prevalence of proliferative retinopathy is lower than that found in previous studies, whereas it is increased for clinically significant macular oedema. These data suggest different risk factors for these clinical entities.

Abbreviations: ETDRS, Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study; HbA1c, glycated haemoglobin; IQR, interquartile range; WESDR, Wisconsin Epidemiologic Study of Diabetic Retinopathy

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. H. Vallance, P. J. Wilson, G. P. Leese, R. McAlpine, C. J. MacEwen, and J. D. Ellis Diabetic Retinopathy: More Patients, Less Laser: A longitudinal population-based study in Tayside, Scotland Diabetes Care, June 1, 2008; 31(6): 1126 - 1131. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L L Knudsen, H-H Lervang, S Lundbye-Christensen, and A Gorst-Rasmussen The North Jutland County Diabetic Retinopathy Study (NCDRS) 2. Non-ophthalmic parameters and clinically significant macular oedema Br. J. Ophthalmol., December 1, 2007; 91(12): 1593 - 1595. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]