Prevalence, characteristics and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients in Jordan: a cross-sectional study.

Objectives: To measure the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes, to define their characteristics, and identify the associated risk factors.

Methods: We performed a cross sectional study of 1316 adult patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who attended an ophthalmology clinic. Demographic, clinical, and laboratory data were analyzed. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was diagnosed using a complete ophthalmic evaluation, including a fundic examination. Two regression models were constructed to identify the risk factors associated with DR and the parameters associated with the stage of retinopathy.

Results: Men accounted for 774 (58.8%) of the participants. The prevalence of DR was 28.2% (371 participants). DR was significantly more common in participants who were ≥60 years old, were women, had had diabetes for >10 years, were taking insulin, were not taking metformin, had a body mass index >30 kg/m, were current smokers, or had a history of hypertension. Advanced stages of DR were more common in participants in the later stages of nephropathy and with albuminuria.

Conclusions: Poor glycemic control, smoking, and advanced diabetic kidney disease are most closely associated with retinopathy. Further longitudinal studies are necessary to identify the mechanisms underlying these relationships and to guide community-based interventions.