Hyperhomocysteinemia is associated with the presence of retinopathy in type 2 diabetes mellitus: the Hoorn study.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Retinopathy is the leading cause of blindness among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM). Hyperhomocysteinemia is a recently recognized risk factor for cardiovascular disease, independent of established risk factors.

OBJECTIVE:

To study the association between the homocysteine level and retinopathy among subjects with and without DM.

METHODS:

We studied an age-, sex-, and glucose tolerance-stratified random sample of a 50- to 75-year-old general white population in the Hoorn Study (N = 625). Retinal vascular changes (retinopathy) were assessed using ophthalmoscopy and/or fundus photography. Hyperhomocysteinemia was defined as a serum total homocysteine level greater than 16 micromol/L.

RESULTS:

The prevalence of retinopathy was 9.8% (28/285) in subjects with normal glucose tolerance, 11.8% (20/169) in those with impaired glucose tolerance, 9.4% (10/106) in those with newly diagnosed type 2 DM, and 32.3% (21/65) in those with known type 2 DM. The prevalence of retinopathy was 10.3% (39/380) in subjects without hypertension and 16.3% (40/245) in subjects with hypertension; it was 12.0% (64/534) in subjects with a serum total homocysteine level of 16 micromol/L or less and 16.5% (15/91) in those with a serum total homocysteine level of more than 16 micromol/L. After stratification for DM and adjustment for age, sex, glycosylated hemoglobin, and hypertension, the odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for the relation between retinopathy and hyperhomocysteinemia was 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.42-2.82) in patients without DM and 3.44 (95% confidence interval, 1.13-10.42) in patients with DM (P =.08 for interaction).

CONCLUSION:

The findings suggest that hyperhomocysteinemia may be a risk factor for retinopathy in patients with type 2 DM, but probably not in patients without DM. Arch Intern Med. 2000;160:2984-2990

• Authors: E K Hoogeveen, P J Kostense, P E Eysink, B C Polak, P J Beks, C Jakobs, J M Dekker, G Nijpels, R J Heine, L M Bouter, C D Stehouwer
• Journal: Archives of internal medicine (Arch Intern Med) Vol. 160 Issue 19 Pg. 2984-90 (Oct 23 2000) ISSN: 0003-9926 [Print] United States
• PMID: 11041907 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Topics

• Aged
• Cross-Sectional Studies
• Diabetic Retinopathy (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Female
• Humans
• Hyperhomocysteinemia (epidemiology)
• Logistic Models
• Male
• Middle Aged
• Retinal Diseases (diagnosis, epidemiology)
• Risk Factors