In this study, nearly 21% of patients with DR had chronic kidney disease.
In this study, nearly 21% of patients with DR also had chronic kidney disease. Photo: Thomas A. Wong, OD. Click image to enlarge.

It is well-known that there is a link between chronic kidney disease and diabetic retinopathy (DR). During a Sunday presentation at the ARVO 2022 conference in Denver, authors of a recent study shared their findings on more precise associations between DR and chronic kidney disease in patients with type 2 diabetes.

The cross-sectional, community-based Tongren Health Care study evaluated 62,217 participants—5,103 of whom had diabetes—who attended regular healthcare check-ups from January 2014 through December 2019.

Within the diabetic group, the prevalence of DR, reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate, albuminuria and chronic kidney disease was 12.8%, 4.6%, 10.1% and 13.3%, respectively.

DR was present in 21% of the individuals with chronic kidney disease, and chronic kidney disease was detectable in 20.9% of the DR patients. Reduced estimated glomerular filtration rate or albuminuria were concurrent with DR in 3.9% and 18.8% of the participants in the diabetic group, respectively. The presence of DR and its severity were significantly associated with the combined occurrence of chronic kidney disease and albuminuria but not with reduced estimated glomerular filtration.

Around one-fifth of chronic kidney disease patients had concurrent DR, and one-fifth of those patients had concurrent chronic kidney disease. Those who were older, had a higher body mass index and suffered from hypertension and/or dyslipidemia had a higher chance of being affected by chronic kidney disease than by DR, while those with a higher fasting glucose level had a higher chance of having DR than chronic kidney disease.

For more on the eye/kidney connection, check out this recent feature article: reviewofoptometry.com/article/the-eye-kidney-connection

Original abstract content © Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology 2022.

Wang YX, Xue CC, Gao LQ, et al. Diabetic retinopathy and chronic kidney disease: association and comorbidities in a large diabetic population: the Tongren Health Care study. ARVO 2022 annual meeting.