Risk factors related to diabetic retinopathy in Vietnamese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus

Along with the rising incidence of diabetes, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) is quickly growing across the world. The incidence of DR complications is high, and many people are not detected until they have complications and visual impairment, causing many difficulties for the treatment process. Aims: The goal of this cross-sectional was to investigate the clinical and subclinical features of Vietnamese diabetic retinopathy patients. Methods: DR was diagnosed using International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy scale. Complete clinical information (Age, sex, weight, height, history of hypertension and diabetes mellitus, smoking, alcohol), subclinical information (Glucose, urea, creatinine, HbA1c, uric acid, cholesterol, triglyceride, HDL-cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol blood levels, Complete blood count) were collected. Results: The research enrolled 140 type 2 diabetic patients (70 in each group: DR and no DR). DR patients had significantly higher age, RBC, Hb, eGFR, uric acid, and creatinine blood levels than patients without DR. A duration of diabetes mellitus of over 15 years was associated with an 8.319-fold increased risk of DR. In conclusion, age, RBC, Hb, eGFR, uric acid, creatinine blood levels and duration of diabetes mellitus over 15 years are risk factors for DR.