Diabetes Care, Vol 20, Issue 7 1147-1153, Copyright © 1997 by American Diabetes Association

ARTICLES

Incidence of blindness in relation to diabetes. A population-based study

C Trautner, A Icks, B Haastert, F Plum and M Berger
Department of Biometrics and Epidemiology, Diabetes Research Institute, Heinrich Heine University, Dusseldorf, Germany. trau@dfi.uni-duesseldorf.de

OBJECTIVE: A reduction of diabetes-related blindness was declared a primary objective for Europe (St. Vincent Declaration). We collected data about incidence rates of blindness in the diabetic population compared with the nondiabetic population. Up to now, such data are scarce-even worldwide. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: A complete list of newly registered blindness allowance recipients was drawn up in the district of Wurttemberg-Hohenzollern, Germany, between 1990 and 1993. From these data, we estimated age-specific and standardized incidence rates of blindness in the entire, the diabetic, and the nondiabetic population, as well as relative and attributable risks due to diabetes. RESULTS: There were 2,714 people meeting the inclusion criteria; 1,823 (67.2%) were female and 781 (28.8%) had diabetes. In 318 subjects, diabetes was likely to be the only cause of blindness; in 192 subjects, it was one of several contributory causes. Age of women was 73.9 +/- 19.4 years (mean +/- SD) and of men 63.3 +/- 25.5 years. Results standardized to the (West) German population are as follows: incidence rates (per 100,000 person-years): total population: 13.5; diabetic population: 60.6; nondiabetic population: 11.6; relative risk: 5.2; attributable risk among exposed: 0.81; and population attributable risk: 0.14. The relative risks decreased considerably with increasing age. When the study is repeated to monitor the St. Vincent targets, a reduction in the incidence rate of blindness in the diabetic population by 17% will be detected with 95% power. CONCLUSIONS: Great relative and attributable risks, especially in younger age-groups, indicate the need for increased attention to preventive measures for microvascular complications.
CiteULike    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    What's this?

This article has been cited by other articles:

				American Diabetes Association Economic Costs of Diabetes in the U.S. in 2007 Diabetes Care, March 1, 2008; 31(3): 596 - 615. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E Stefansson Prevention of diabetic blindness Br. J. Ophthalmol., January 1, 2006; 90(1): 2 - 3. [Full Text] [PDF]

				The DIRECT Programme Study Group The DIabetic REtinopathy Candesartan Trials (DIRECT) Programme: baseline characteristics Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, March 1, 2005; 6(1): 25 - 32. [Abstract] [PDF]

				L. Rodriguez-Manas, M. Castro, and J. Manzarbeitia Review: Cardiovascular risk and diabetes in old people The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, January 1, 2005; 5(1): 7 - 11. [Abstract] [PDF]

				C. Trautner, B. Haastert, B. Richter, M. Berger, and G. Giani Incidence of Blindness in Southern Germany Due to Glaucoma and Degenerative Conditions Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci., March 1, 2003; 44(3): 1031 - 1034. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				I Kocur and S Resnikoff Visual impairment and blindness in Europe and their prevention Br. J. Ophthalmol., July 1, 2002; 86(7): 716 - 722. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. P Leese and J. D Ellis Review: Overview of diabetic eye disease The British Journal of Diabetes & Vascular Disease, January 1, 2002; 2(1): 14 - 17. [Abstract] [PDF]

				G. E. Eide and I. Heuch Attributable fractions: fundamental concepts and their visualization Statistical Methods in Medical Research, June 1, 2001; 10(3): 159 - 193. [Abstract] [PDF]

				T G M Cormack, B Grant, M J Macdonald, J Steel, and I W Campbell Incidence of blindness due to diabetic eye disease in Fife 1990-9 Br. J. Ophthalmol., March 1, 2001; 85(3): 354 - 356. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				D. A. Streja and S. W. Rabkin Factors Associated With Implementation of Preventive Care Measures in Patients With Diabetes Mellitus Arch Intern Med, February 8, 1999; 159(3): 294 - 302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]