Younger Age and Albuminuria are Associated with Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Macular Edema in the South Indian GeNetics of DiAbeTic Retinopathy (SIGNATR) Study

• Published in: Current eye research 2022-10, Vol.47 (10), p.1416-1423
• Main Authors: Susarla, Gayatri, Rizza, A.N., Li, Ashley, Han, Samuel, Khan, Rehana, Chan, Weilin, Lains, Ines, Apivatthakakul, Atitaya, Brustoski, Kim, Khetan, Vikas, Raman, Rajiv, Igo, Robert P., Iyengar, Sudha K., Mathavan, Sinnakaruppan, Sobrin, Lucia
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Albuminuria - complications; Albuminuria - diagnosis; Albuminuria - genetics; Cholesterol; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - complications; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - epidemiology; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 - genetics; Diabetic retinopathy; Diabetic Retinopathy - complications; Diabetic Retinopathy - diagnosis; Diabetic Retinopathy - genetics; genetics; Glycated Hemoglobin; Humans; Macular Edema - etiology; Macular Edema - genetics; Male; Prospective Studies; Risk Factors; South India; Triglycerides; type 2 diabetes
• ISSN: 0271-3683; 1460-2202
• DOI: 10.1080/02713683.2022.2091148

Purpose: The purpose of the South Indian GeNetics of DiAbeTic Retinopathy (SIGNATR) Study is to identify non-genetic and genetic risk factors associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). This report examines the non-genetic risk factors for DR in South Indian patients. Methods: Participants with South Indian ancestry and type 2 diabetes (T2D) were included from two sources: the Sankara Nethralaya Diabetic Retinopathy and Molecular Genetics Study (SN-DREAMS) and prospective recruitment at Sankara Nethralaya affiliates. Fundus photography and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were obtained on participants. Fundus images were graded for DR severity and OCTs were graded for center-involved diabetic macular edema (ciDME). Multivariate analyses were performed using stepwise logistic regression to assess effects of the demographic and clinical factors on proliferative DR (PDR) and DME. Results: Among the 2941 participants with DR grading, participants with PDR were more likely to be younger [odds ratio (OR)=0.95], men (OR = 1.83), have a longer duration of diabetes (OR = 1.10), have a higher hemoglobin A1c (OR = 1.12), have albuminuria (OR = 5.83), have hypertension (OR = 1.69), have a higher HDL (OR = 1.02) and a lower total cholesterol (OR = 0.99) (all p