May 2008
Volume 49, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2008
The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy: The Singapore Malay Eye Study
T. Y. Wong; N. Cheung; W. T. Tay; M. Sandar; J. J. Wang; T. Aung; S. M. Saw; P. Mitchell; E. S. Tai
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • T. Y. Wong
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • N. Cheung
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
  • W. T. Tay
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • M. Sandar
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • J. J. Wang
    Centre for Eye Research Australia, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • T. Aung
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore National Eye Centre, Singapore
  • S. M. Saw
    Singapore Eye Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
    Department of Community, Occupational and Family Medicine, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore, Singapore
  • P. Mitchell
    Centre for Vision Research, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
  • E. S. Tai
    Department of Endocrinology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore, Singapore
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  T.Y. Wong, None; N. Cheung, None; W.T. Tay, None; M. Sandar, None; J.J. Wang, None; T. Aung, None; S.M. Saw, None; P. Mitchell, None; E.S. Tai, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  This study was supported by the National Medical Research Council Grants No 0796/2003, 0863/2004 and CSI/0002/2005, Biomedical Research Council Grant No 501/1/25-5, and the Singapore Tissue Network.
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2008, Vol.49, 1160. doi:
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      T. Y. Wong, N. Cheung, W. T. Tay, M. Sandar, J. J. Wang, T. Aung, S. M. Saw, P. Mitchell, E. S. Tai; The Prevalence and Risk Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy: The Singapore Malay Eye Study. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2008;49(13):1160.

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Abstract

Purpose: : To describe the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy in Asian Malays.

Methods: : A population-based, cross-sectional study of 3,280 (78.7% response rate) Malay persons aged 40-80 years in Singapore was conducted. Diabetes mellitus was defined as random glucose ≥11.1 mmol/L, use of diabetic medication or self reported diabetes. Retinal photographs taken from both eyes were graded for presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy using the modified Airlie House classification system.

Results: : There were 757 persons with diabetes with gradable photographs for analysis. The overall prevalence of any retinopathy was 35.4% and macular edema 5.8%. The prevalence of minimal non-proliferative retinopathy (NPDR) was 12.7%, mild NPDR 6.3%, moderate NPDR 5.9%, and severe NPDR or proliferative retinopathy 10.6%. Vision-threatening retinopathy signs, defined as macular edema, severe NPDR or proliferative retinopathy, were seen in 11.4% of the population. Women had substantially higher proportions with moderate (7.7% vs 3.6%), severe (12.6% vs 7.9%), and vision-threatening (13.6% vs 8.5%) retinopathy than men. In multiple logistic regression, independent risk factors for any retinopathy were younger age (odds ratio [OR] 0.93, 95% confidence intervals [CI], 0.90, 0.96, per year increase), longer diabetes duration (OR 1.04, 95% CI, 1.02, 1.07, per year increase), higher HbA1c (OR 1.26, 95% CI, 1.12, 1.41, per 1% increase), higher pulse pressure (OR 1.03, 95% CI, 1.02, 1.05, per mmHg increase), presence of chronic kidney disease (OR 1.61, 95% CI, 1.01, 2.55), lower body mass index (OR 0.95, 95% CI, 0.90, 0.99, per 1 kg/m2 increase) and lower total cholesterol levels (OR 0.73, 95% CI, 0.60, 0.89, per mmol/L increase)

Conclusions: : One in ten adult Malay persons with diabetes in Singapore has vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Risk factors for retinopathy in this population are largely similar to white populations elsewhere, suggesting that control of these risk factors may reduce both the prevalence and impact of retinopathy.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: risk factor assessment 
© 2008, The Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, Inc., all rights reserved. Permission to republish any abstract or part of an abstract in any form must be obtained in writing from the ARVO Office prior to publication.
Copyright © 2025 Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology.
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