Diabetic Retinopathy in a Multi-ethnic Cohort in the United tate Original Reearch Article

Purpoe To decribe the prevalence and rik factor of diabetic retinopathy in a multi-ethnic U population of white, black, hipanic, and chinee. Deign Cro-ectional tudy of 778 individual from age 45 to 85 year with diabete, participating in the Multi-Ethnic tudy of Atherocleroi (MEA). Method Retinal photograph were obtained with a 45° nonmydriatic digital fundu camera. Preence and everity of diabetic retinopathy were graded at a central reading center on the bai of a modification of the Airlie Houe claification ytem. All participant underwent a tandardized interview, examination, and laboratory invetigation. Reult In thi population with diabete, the prevalence of any retinopathy wa 33.2% and macular edema 9.0%. The prevalence of any diabetic retinopathy and macular edema wa ignificantly higher in black (36.7% and 11.1%) and hipanic (37.4% and 10.7%) than in white (24.8% and 2.7%) and chinee (25.7% and 8.9%) (P = .01 and P = .007, comparing racial/ethnic difference for retinopathy and macular edema, repectively). ignificant independent predictor of any retinopathy were longer duration of diabete, higher fating erum glucoe, ue of diabetic oral medication or inulin, and greater wait-hip ratio. Race wa not an independent predictor of any retinopathy. Concluion Thi tudy provide contemporary data on the prevalence of and rik factor for diabetic retinopathy among white, black, hipanic, and chinee participating in the MEA.