The Effect of Interventions to Prevent Type 2 Diabetes on the Development of Diabetic Retinopathy: The DPP/DPPOS Experience
Year: 2022
Type: other
Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To determine whether interventions that slow or prevent the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus in those at risk reduce the subsequent prevalence of diabetic retinopathy. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: The Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) randomized subjects at risk for developing type 2 diabetes because of overweight/obesity and dysglycemia to either metformin (MET), intensive lifestyle intervention (ILS) or placebo (PLB) to assess the prevention of diabetes. During the DPP and DPP Outcome Study (DPPOS), we performed fundus photography over time on study participants, regardless of their diabetes status. Fundus photographs were graded using the ETDRS grading system with diabetic retinopathy defined as typical lesions of diabetic retinopathy (microaneurysms, exudates or hemorrhage, or worse) in either eye. RESULTS: Despite reduced progression to diabetes in the ILS and MET groups compared to PLB, there was no difference in the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy between treatment groups after 1, 5, 11 or 16 years of follow up. No treatment group differences in retinopathy were found within prespecified subgroups (baseline age, sex, race/ethnicity, baseline BMI). In addition, there was no difference in the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy between those exposed to metformin and those not exposed to metformin regardless of treatment group assignment. CONCLUSION: Interventions that delay or prevent the onset of type 2 diabetes in overweight/obese subjects with dysglycemia who are at risk for diabetes do not reduce the development of diabetic retinopathy for up to 20 years.
Language: English
Subfield: Ophthalmology
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4281483349