Diabetic retinopathy predicts in-hospital outcome of coronary artery disease

Abstract EN

Background : Coronary artery disease together with diabetic retinopathy is well known complications of diabetes mellitus (DM).

Our aim is to study the correlation between the presence of diabetic retinopathy and the development of complications of coronary artery disease in the period of admission to the coronary care unit.

Patients & method: Fifty patients with DM II were selected from coronary care unit attendants at Assadr Teaching Hospital in Najaf; 26 with evidence of diabetic retinopathy vs.

24 without.

All were followed up for occurrence of complications of coronary artery disease.

Results: Eighteen Out of the 26 patients with diabetic retinopathy developed complications of coronary artery disease vs.

10 out of the 24 patients without diabetic retinopathy; an association which appeared to be statistically significant (P value < 0.05).

Conclusion Diabetic retinopathy has significant association with, and can be used as predictor of, the occurrence of coronary artery disease complications during the period of admission to the coronary care unit.