Apr 16 2008
Keep an eye on diabetic retinopathy to keep away from heart failure
Apr 16: An interesting study conducted by the US researchers revealed that diabetic retinopathy the main cause of vision loss in the United States is also an indication of heart failure. As part of the study the researchers observed 1000 middle aged people with type 2 diabetes for nine years and found that those persons with retinopathy had more than a 2.5 fold risk of heart failure than those without diabetic retinopathy.
On the wake of the findings, Dr Hector O. Ventura, director of the cardiology residency program at the Ochsner Health System in New Orleans and the co-author of the study, suggested that the diabetic retinopathy patients should have to be more careful about the chances of developing heart failure.
Some studies conducted earlier have also revealed the connection between heart failure and diabetic retinopathy. But the new study gains significance as it focussed on diabetic retinopathy patients by eliminating those having kidney disorder and coronary heart disease that is considered as the major risk factor for heart failure.
While commenting on this Dr. Ventura said: “While diagnosing retinopathy the possibility of it being linked to heart failure has not been considered. In future the retinopathy patients will also be referred to cardiologist. According to the research retinopathy can also provide a clear indication of the damage of endothelium, the delicate inner lining of blood vessels.”
“The interesting thing about this study is its association with strong or mild degree of eye disease. It considered both of them very seriously. The study is the first of its kind to find the link between micro vessels problems and the increased risk of heart failure,” said Dr. Nancy Sweitzer, director of the heart failure program at the University of Wisconsin.
This research is an alarm bell for those who are affected by diabetic retinopathy.
