Prevalence and Associated Factors of Diabetic Retinopathy in Quzhou, China: A Cross-Sectional Study

Objectives: To assess the prevalence and risk factors for fundus status among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) using fundus screening in four towns of Quzhou city, Zhejiang province of China. Methods This cross-sectional study included 230 T2DM patients of four towns in Quzhou city, Zhejiang province of China. Participants were examined for the diabetes related fundus abnormalities and possible risk factors. Results Almost half of the T2DM patients (53.04%) reported with diabetic retinopathy (DR). Patients with diabetic retinopathy had longer duration of diabetes ( P  < 0.001) and higher HbA1c ( P  < 0.01). Risk factors for development of diabetic retinopathy included duration of diabetes and HbA1c. The prevalence of DR increased with the prolongation of the disease duration. The prevalence of DR was 28.79% in the group of disease duration < 5 years, 46.25% in the group of disease duration 5–10 years, 72.92% in the group of disease duration 10–15 years and 88.57% in the group of disease duration ≥ 15 years. What’s more, the prevalence of DR also increased with the increment of HbA1c levels. The prevalence of DR was 44.62% in the group of HbA1c < 7%, 53.13% in the group of HbA1c 7%-8%, 62.92% in the group of HbA1c ≥ 8%. Conclusion The prevalence of DR was disturbingly high. Risk factors for DR were similar to other studies and included duration of diabetes and HbA1c. Thus, good glycemic control remains the core foundation of managing DR.