Association between Dibetic Foot Ulcer and Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

 

Purpose

 

The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetic foot ulcer (DFU) and to elucidate the association between severity of DR and DFU.

 

Methods

 

A retrospective review was conducted for consecutive patients who were diagnosed with DFU from October 2004 to October 2011 and received ophthalmic examination within 6 months after diagnosis of DFU. The prevalence and severities of DR in patients with DFU was assessed. In addition, the association between severity of DR and DFU was evaluated. Patients with DFU were divided into two groups according to the severity of DR, and demographic, clinical, and biochemical characteristics were compared between two groups.

 

Results

 

A total of 100 patients (mean age, 66.7 ± 10.6 years) were analyzed and 74 patients (74%) were male. Mean diabetes duration was 18.5 ± 10.6 years and HbA1c (%) was 8.0 ± 1.8. Ninety patients (90%) had DR and 55 patients (55%) had proliferative DR (PDR). There was no significant association between the severity of DR and DFU (r=0.034, p=0.734). In the subgroup comparison, the PDR group had a longer duration of diabetic mellitus, higher BUN and creatinine levels than the non-PDR group had.

 

Conclusions

 

Most patients with DFU had DR and more than a half of patients had PDR. Therefore, patients with DFU, especially with the presence of high BUN/Cr, long diabetes duration, should have a cautious retinal examination for diagnosis and management of DR.

 

Keywords: 499 diabetic retinopathy