Differenze di sesso-genere nella retinopatia diabetica

Aim and background:Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the main causes of visual loss in individuals aged 20-64 years old. Some evidence indicate clear sex gender differences in diabetes: renal disease progresses at a faster rate in females compared with males and women benefit less from treatment than men do, while studies focused on sex-gender differences in diabetic retinopathy do not give clear indications. The aim of my study was to investigate sex gender difference in DR.Methods:During the period 2015-2016 we performed 3573 (2159 males, 1414 females) retinographies in type 2 diabetic patients referring to our outpatient clinic. Each imagine was independently evaluate by an experienced diabetologist and one oculist. In case of disagreement, patient was examined under mydriasis. Patients were classified as having: a) No DR (NRD), b) non proliferative DR (RDNP), c) pre-proliferative and proliferative DR (RDPP), e) maculopathy (MAC). Each patient had full clinical and laboratory data in the database.Results:The two groups were homogeneous for age, diabetes duration, BMI, glicometabolic and lipidic assess, kidney function and ACEI use. In general 75,2 % were NRD, 17,2% RDNP, 3,4% RDPP and 4,2% MAC without sex gender differences.Conclusion:Our study shows: a) No sex gender differences in the different classes of DR for any of the analyzed parameters, b)Retinography allows to exclude DR in 75,2% of our patients avoiding the more expensive oculist assessment.