The Related Risk Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy in Elderly Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Hospital-Based Cohort Study in Taiwan

Tsai-Tung Chiu, Tien-Lung Tsai, Mei-Yin Su, Tsan Yang, Peng-Lin Tseng, Yau-Jiunn Lee and Chao-Hsien Lee
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Tsai-Tung Chiu: Department of Health Business Administration, Meiho University, Pingtung 912009, Taiwan
Tien-Lung Tsai: Department of Applied Mathematics, National Pingtung University, Pingtung 900391, Taiwan
Mei-Yin Su: Athletic Department, National Taiwan University, Taipei 106216, Taiwan
Tsan Yang: Department of Health Business Administration, Meiho University, Pingtung 912009, Taiwan
Peng-Lin Tseng: Department of Nursing, Pingtung Christian Hospital, Pingtung 900026, Taiwan
Yau-Jiunn Lee: Lee’s Endocrinology Clinic, Pingtung 900028, Taiwan
Chao-Hsien Lee: Department of Health Business Administration, Meiho University, Pingtung 912009, Taiwan

IJERPH, 2021, vol. 18, issue 1, 1-9

Abstract: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), caused by small vessel disease, is the main cause of blindness in persons with diabetes. Taiwan is one of the Asian countries with the highest prevalence rate of DR. The purpose was to investigate the related risk factors of DR in elderly patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), in Lee’s Endocrinology Clinic. 792 T2DM patients over 60 years old were invited to have an outpatient visit at least every three months, and all of them were asked to undergo a standardized interview and collect their blood samples. Significant factors were being female (adjusted hazard ratio (HR): 1.287; 95% CI, 1.082–1.531), higher glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) (HR: 1.067; 95% CI: 1.016–1.119), higher mean low density of lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-c) (HR: 1.004; 95% CI: 1.001–1.006), and chewing betel nut (HR: 1.788; 95% CI: 1.362–2.347). This study showed that gender, the behavior of chewing betel nut, HbA1c, and LDL-c are important factors for the development of DR in elderly patients with T2DM. It is suggested that patients should control their HbA1c and LDL-c and quit chewing betel nut to prevent DR. This suggestion applies especially to female patients.

Keywords: health behavior; chewing betel nut; dilated fundus examination (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2021
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