High Systolic Blood Pressure Increases Prevalence and Severity Of Retinopathy in NIDDM Patients
- Mauro Cignarelli, MD, PhD,
- Maria Luigia De Cicco, MD,
- Aurelio Damato, MD,
- Adriano Paternostro, MD,
- Sergio Pagliarini, MD,
- Salvatore Santoro, MD,
- Luigi Cardia, MD, PhD,
- Giovanni De Pergola, MD and
- Riccardo Giorgino, MD, PhD
- Istituto di Clinica Medica, Endocrinologia e Malattie Metaboliche, and the Istituto di Clinica Oculistica, Universita di Bari—Policlinico Piazza Giulio Cesare, Bari, Italy
- Address Correspondence and reprint requests to Professor Mauro Cignarelli, Istituto di Clinica Medica, Endocrinologia e Malattie Metaboliche, Universita di Bari, Policlinico, Piazza Giulio Cesare, 70124 Bari, Italy.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether the severity of retinopathy is higher in a group of NIDDM patients with sBP ≥ 140 mmHg compared with NIDDM patients with sBP < 140 mmHg.
RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS Ophthalmoscopy and FAG were conducted among a group of NIDDM patients with either a sBP above (n = 54) or below (n = 55) 140 mmHg. The groups were matched according to diabetes duration, metabolic control (HbA1c), and AER.
RESULTS Patients with sBP > 140 mmHg had a higher prevalence of retinopathy, as established according to a rating scale (4.9 ± 3.8 vs. 3.2 ± 3.3, P < 0.02); furthermore, their BMI values were higher (28.1 ± 4.5 vs. 24.9 ± 4.1 kg/m2, P < 0.001). The group of normotensive subjects showed the highest rate of low grading (0–2) values. However, the highest prevalence rates of 8–10 grading values (proliferative retinopathy) were found in the hypertensive group.
CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that sBP values ≥ 140 mmHg favor the onset of retinopathy in NIDDM patients during their 1st 10 yr of disease.
- Received December 3, 1990.
- Accepted December 20, 1991.
- Copyright © 1992 by the American Diabetes Association
