Table 1. Clinical and biochemical characteristics of individuals with T2DM stratified by presence of DR (n = 435).
| Variables | DR (172) | Non-DR (263) | All (435) | P-value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Entry age (yrs) | 55.3 ± 9.3 | 50.8 ± 12.8 | 52.6 ± 11.8 | <0.001 |
| Age group, No., (%) | ||||
| 21–29 | 0 (0) | 21 (8.0) | 21 (4.8) | |
| 30–39 | 12 (7.0) | 30 (11.4) | 42 (9.7) | |
| 40–49 | 25 (14.5) | 51 (20.5) | 79 (18.2) | |
| 50–59 | 85 (49.4) | 85 (32.2) | 170 (39.1) | |
| 60–69 | 39 (22.7) | 64 (24.3) | 103(23.7) | |
| >70 | 11 (6.4) | 9 (3.4) | 20 (4.6) | <0.001 |
| Male gender, No., (%) | 58.1 | 60.5 | 59.5 | 0.232 |
| Ethnicity, No., (%) | ||||
| Chinese | 76 (45.2) | 154 (60.9) | 230 (54.6) | |
| Malays | 48 (28.6) | 36 (14.2) | 84 (20.0) | |
| Indians | 44 (26.2) | 63 (24.9) | 107 (25.4) | 0.001 |
| BMI (kg/m2) | 28.3 ± 5.8 | 28.3 ± 5.7 | 28.3 ± 5.7 | 0.901 |
| Smoking (current and former), No., (%) | 29 (26.9) | 21 (8.0) | 50 (11.5) | 0.005 |
| T2DM burden | ||||
| Duration (yrs) | 14.5±9.2 | 9.3±8.3 | 11.3±9.0 | <0.001 |
| HbA1c (%) | 8.4±1.4 | 7.9±1.5 | 8.1±1.4 | 0.009 |
| Oral glycemic medication,a No., (%) | 157 (91.8) | 240 (91.6) | 397 (91.7) | 0.938 |
| Insulin, No., (%) | 89 (52.5) | 83 (31.7) | 172 (39.7) | <0.001 |
| RAS medication,b No., (%) | 129 (75.0) | 150 (57.5) | 279 (64.4) | <0.001 |
| History of CVD | ||||
| IHD,c No., (%) | 23 (13.8) | 30 (11.4) | 53 (12.5) | 0.602 |
| Stroke No., (%) | 15 (8.8) | 8 (3.0) | 23 (5.6) | 0.057 |
| CKD,d No., (%) | 135 (78.5) | 103 (39.2) | 238 (54.7) | <0.001 |
| Neuropathy,e No., (%) | 46 (27.5) | 10 (4.0) | 56 (13.5) | <0.001 |
aUsage of insulin secretagogues, Rosi-/Pio-glitazone or metformin
bRenin-angiotensin system (RAS) medication, angiotensin-converting-enzyme or angiotensin receptor blockers
cIschemic heart disease (IHD), blockade of arteries to the heart, heart Attack, balloon angioplasty of blocked artery of the heart, or heart bypass operation
dCKD, eGFR <60 ml/min/1.73m2 AND/OR ACR≥30mg/g
eNeurothesiometer reading>25 V or monofilament sensory test result below 8 out of 10 points on either side of the feet.
HbA1C, hemoglobin A1c; BMI, body mass index; HDL-C, high density lipoprotein cholesterol; CVD, cardiovascular disease; CKD, chronic kidney disease