Is diabetic retinopathy an independent risk factor for ischemic stroke?
BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The relationship between diabetic retinopathy and ischemic stroke is uncertain and examined in this study. METHODS: A population-based, prospective cohort study of 1617 middle-aged persons with diabetes. Diabetic retinopathy signs were ascertained from retinal photographs, and incident ischemic stroke events were prospectively identified and validated. RESULTS: Over an average follow-up of 7.8 years, there were 75 ischemic stroke events. After adjustment for age, gender, race, center, 6-year mean arterial blood pressure, anti-hypertensive treatment use, fasting glucose, insulin treatment, duration of diabetes, high-density lipoprotein and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels and cigarette smoking status, diabetic retinopathy was associated with an increased risk of ischemic stroke (hazard rate ratio, 2.34; 95% CI, 1.13 to 4.86). CONCLUSIONS: Diabetic retinopathy predicts incident ischemic stroke in people with diabetes, independent of other risk factors.
Duke Scholars
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- Stroke
- Risk Factors
- Prospective Studies
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Follow-Up Studies
- Female
- Diabetic Retinopathy
Citation
Published In
DOI
EISSN
Publication Date
Volume
Issue
Start / End Page
Location
Related Subject Headings
- Stroke
- Risk Factors
- Prospective Studies
- Neurology & Neurosurgery
- Middle Aged
- Male
- Humans
- Follow-Up Studies
- Female
- Diabetic Retinopathy