Table 1.
Population Characteristics at Baseline
| All (N=29961) | Diabetic Retinal Disease (N=2008) | Diabetic Retinal Disease absent (N=27953) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age in 1998, y | 70.6 (6.8) | 70.0 (6.4) | 70.6 (6.8) | <.001 |
| Female | 13787(46.0%) | 1028 (51.2 %) | 12759 (45.6%) | <.001 |
| Race | <.001 | |||
| White | 18903(63.1%) | 1137 (56.6%) | 17766 (63.6%) | |
| African Amer. | 3400 (11.4%) | 279 (13.9%) | 3121 (11.2%) | |
| Hispanic | 3291 (11.0%) | 272 (13.6%) | 3019 (10.8%) | |
| Asian | 3246 (10.8%) | 238 (11.9%) | 3008 (10.8%) | |
| Other | 820 (2.8%) | 59 (3.0%) | 761 (2.8%) | |
| Education level, range 1–6 | 4 (3–5) | 4 (3–5) | 4 (3–5) | 0.42 |
| Medical utilization | 7059 (23.6%) | 622 (31.0%) | 6437 (23.0%) | <.001 |
| Diabetes Duration, y | 11.6 (9.5) | 16.1 (9.8) | 11.3 (9.4) | <.001 |
| HbA1c, % | 7.8 (1.8) | 8.0 (1.9) | 7.8 (1.8) | <.001 |
| Diabetespharmacotherapy | <.001 | |||
| None | 5934 (19.8%) | 197 (9.8%) | 5737 (20.5%) | |
| Insulin Only | 5905 (19.7%) | 860 (42.8%) | 5045 (18.1%) | |
| Oral Only | 16247(54.2%) | 746 (37.2%) | 15501 (55.5%) | |
| Insulin +Oral | 1875 (6.3%) | 205 (10.2%) | 1670 (6.0%) | |
| Hyperglycemic events | 99 (0.3%) | 14 (0.7%) | 85 (0.3%) | <.005 |
| Hypoglycemic events | 962 (3.2%) | 156 (7.8%) | 806 (2.9%) | <.001 |
| Cerebrovascular disease | 2149 (7.2%) | 198 (9.9%) | 1951 (7.0%) | <.001 |
| Hypertension | 17577(58.7%) | 1316(65.5%) | 16261(58.2%) | <.001 |
| Hyperlipidemia | 6348 (21.2%) | 463 (23.1%) | 5885 (21.1%) | 0.03 |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 29.0 (5.5) | 28.8 (5.3) | 29(5.5) | 0.07 |
| Smoking | <.001 | |||
| Current | 2275 (7.6%) | 84 (1.2%) | 2191 (7.8%) | |
| Former | 12572(42.0%) | 763 (38.0%) | 11809 (42.3%) | |
| Never | 12669(42.3%) | 990 (49.3%) | 11679 (41.8%) | |
| Peripheral arterial disease | 1842 (6.2%) | 208 (10.4%) | 1634 (5.9%) | <.001 |
| Myocardial infarction | 4181 (14.0%) | 332 (16.5%) | 3849 (13.8%) | <.001 |
| Congestive heart failure | 3593 (12.0%) | 382 (19.0%) | 3211 (11.5%) | <.001 |
Data are presented as number (column %) or mean (SD) and for education level median (interquartile range). P values were calculated using chi-square or student t-test, y=years. Education level: 1) Grade school, 2) High school 3)High school graduate, 4) Trade/business school, 5) College graduate, 6) Graduate School. Abbreviations: HbA1c, glycosylated hemoglobin; BMI, body mass index.