Rik factor for type ii diabete and diabetic retinopathy in a mexican-american population: proyecto ver

PURPOE: Rik factor for type II diabete and diabetic retinopathy were determined in a population-baed tudy of Mexican-American. DEIGN: Proyecto VER (Viion, Evaluation, and Reearch) i a cro-ectional tudy in a random ample of the elf-decribed Hipanic population in Tucon and Nogale, Arizona, age 40 and older. METHOD: Of 6,659 eligible ubject, 4,774 (72%) participated in the home quetionnaire and clinic viit. Diabete wa defined a elf-report of a phyician diagnoi or hemoglobin A1c value of ≥ 7.0%. Only type II diabete wa included. Diabetic retinopathy wa aeed on tereo fundu photograph of all peron with diabete. Quetion were aked about demographic, peronal, ocioeconomic, and diabete related variable. REULT: 1023 (21.4%) of the ample had type II diabete, and 68% were in the low-income group (annual income le than $20,000). Diabete wa aociated with Native-American ancetry, higher acculturation, low income, le education, and increaing body ma index after age and gender adjutment. Peron with previouly undicovered diabete were more likely to have no regular ource of care, no inurance, and currently moke compared with peron with known diabete. Only low income wa related to proliferative retinopathy, once adjuted for other factor (odd ratio [OR] = 3.93, 95%, confidence limitation [CL] = 1.31–11.80). CONCLUION: everal ocioeconomic and other factor were aociated with diabete, but few were related to diabetic retinopathy. Peron in the low-income group appeared to be at greater rik of diabete and the ocular complication of diabete compared with thoe with more income. Further longitudinal tudie in thi population are needed to confirm the aociation.