Association between spousal diabetes status and diabetic retinopathy in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.

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%,  ⩽ 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,  = 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,  = 0.0082; odds ratio = 0.50, 95% confidence interval = 0.27-0.94,  = 0.031; odds ratio = 0.58, 95% confidence interval = 0.37-0.92,  = 0.021, respectively).

Conclusion: We demonstrated that spousal diabetes was associated with a lower diabetic retinopathy prevalence in Chinese patients with type 2 diabetes.