Diabetic retinopathy ‘risk marker’ in coronary artery disease

The presence and degree of diabetic retinopathy are independent predictors of severe coronary atherosclerosis in type 2 diabetes, a study by Egyptian researchers has suggested.

On the back of the findings, the research team from Sohag University and Ain Shams University recommend diabetic retinopathy (DR) degree be taken into consideration when evaluating whether a person with type 2 diabetes is at high risk for coronary artery disease (CAD).

The study of 140 participants assessed the correlation between the degree of DR and the coronary atherosclerosis severity in type 2 diabetes due to “little information about the relation between the degree of DR and coronary atherosclerosis severity in Egyptian patients”.

The participants underwent diagnostic coronary angiography because of suspected coronary artery disease (CAD).

According to the study’s results: “Patients with DR had a significantly higher Gensini score (67.86± 44.56 versus 5.93± 9.02, P < 0.001) and a vessel score (2.29± 0.86 versus 0.50± 0.66, P < 0.001). There was a significant relation between the degree of DR, Gensini score (P < 0.001), and vessel score (P < 0.001), as both scores increased according to the severity of DR. The presence and degree of retinopathy were the only independent factors linked to the severity score in multivariate linear regression analyses (P < 0.001).”

The researchers concluded: “The presence of DR is an independent predictor of severe CAD. Thus, when evaluating whether a patient with T2DM is at high risk for CVD, the DR degree should be taken into consideration. Our findings have important therapeutic implications since the priority will be for individuals with a severe degree of DR when doing a CAD screening.”

To access the study, click here.