Sex differences in risk factors for retinopathy in non-diabetic men and women: the Tromsø Eye Study

• Published in: Acta Ophthalmologica
• Main Authors: Bertelsen, Geir, Peto, Tunde, Lindekleiv, Haakon, Schirmer, Henrik, Solbu, Marit D, Toft, Ingrid, Sjølie, Anne Katrin, Njølstad, Inger
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2014
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; 80 and over; Albuminuria; Blood Glucose; Blood Pressure; Chromatography; High Pressure Liquid; Cross-Sectional Studies; Female; Hemoglobin A; Glycosylated; Humans; Hypertension; Male; Middle Aged; Norway; Prevalence; Retinal Diseases; Risk Factors; Sex Factors; Surveys and Questionnaires; Journal Article; Research Support; Non-U.S. Gov't; /dk/atira/pure/sustainabledevelopmentgoals/good_health_and_well_being; SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being; Tromsø
• Online Access: https://pure.qub.ac.uk/en/publications/sex-differences-in-risk-factors-for-retinopathy-in-nondiabetic-men-and-women-the-tromsoe-eye-study(499f5cce-07b3-4e8d-b628-3bac32ada3b1).html; https://doi.org/10.1111/aos.12199

PURPOSE: To determine the prevalence and risk factors for retinopathy in a nondiabetic population. METHODS: The study population included 5869 participants without diabetes aged 38-87 years from the Tromsø Eye Study, a substudy of the population-based Tromsø Study in Norway. Retinal images from both eyes were graded for retinopathy. We collected data on risk factors from self-report questionnaires, clinical examinations, laboratory measurements and case note reviews. The cross-sectional relationship between potential risk factors and retinopathy was assessed using logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of retinopathy was 14.8%. Men had a higher prevalence of retinopathy compared with women (15.9% versus 14.0%, p=0.04). In men, retinopathy was associated with hypertension (odds ratio [OR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.24-2.04) and HbA1c (OR per %, 1.41; 95% CI, 1.01-1.96). In women, retinopathy was associated with age (OR per 10 years, 1.32; 95% CI, 1.14-1.52), log-transformed urinary albumin excretion (OR per log unit, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.14-1.87) and hypertension (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.08-1.71). In women, retinopathy was associated with very low levels of urinary albumin excretion (urinary albumin/creatinine ratio >0.43 mg/mmol). CONCLUSION: This study confirms results from previous studies on the strong association between blood pressure and retinopathy. A novel finding is the sex differences in risk factors for retinopathy, suggesting a sex difference in the pathogenesis leading to retinopathy.