Association between alcohol consumption and diabetic retinopathy and visual acuity—the AdRem Study

  1. C. C. Lee1,
  2. R. P. Stolk2,3,
  3. A. I. Adler1,4,
  4. A. Patel5,
  5. J. Chalmers5,
  6. B. Neal5,
  7. N. Poulter6,
  8. S. Harrap7,
  9. M. Woodward5,8,
  10. M. Marre9,
  11. D. E. Grobbee3,
  12. J. W. Beulens3,
  13. on behalf of the AdRem project team and ADVANCE management committee1

Article first published online: 5 JUL 2010

DOI: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2010.03080.x

Issue

Diabetic Medicine

Diabetic Medicine

Volume 27, Issue 10, pages 1130–1137, October 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Lee, C. C., Stolk, R. P., Adler, A. I., Patel, A., Chalmers, J., Neal, B., Poulter, N., Harrap, S., Woodward, M., Marre, M., Grobbee, D. E., Beulens, J. W. and on behalf of the AdRem project team and ADVANCE management committee (2010), Association between alcohol consumption and diabetic retinopathy and visual acuity—the AdRem Study. Diabetic Medicine, 27: 1130–1137. doi: 10.1111/j.1464-5491.2010.03080.x

Author Information

  1. 1

    MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK

  2. 2

    University Medical Centre Groningen

  3. 3

    University Medical Centre Utrecht, the Netherlands

  4. 4

    Wolfson Diabetes and Endocrine Clinic, Institute of Metabolic Science, Cambridge, UK

  5. 5

    George Institute of International Health, Sydney, NSW, Australia

  6. 6

    Imperial College and St Mary’s Hospital, London, UK

  7. 7

    University of Melbourne, Melbourne, Australia

  8. 8

    Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

  9. 9

    Hôpital Bichat-Claude Bernard and Université Paris, Paris, France

*Joline W. J. Beulens, Julius Centre for Health Sciences and Primary Care, University Medical Centre Utrecht, Room STR. 7.133, PO Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, the Netherlands. E-mail: J.Beulens@umcutrecht.nl

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 5 JUL 2010
  2. Article first published online: 5 JUL 2010
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 5 JUL 2010 12:00AM EST
  4. Accepted 30 June 2010

SEARCH

SEARCH BY CITATION

ARTICLE TOOLS

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (92K)

Keywords:

  • alcohol consumption;
  • diabetic retinopathy;
  • visual acuity

Diabet. Med. 27, 1130–1137 (2010)

Abstract

Aims  We investigated the association between alcohol consumption and diabetic retinopathy and deterioration of visual acuity in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

Methods  We conducted a cohort analysis of 1239 participants with Type 2 diabetes aged 55–81 years enrolled in the AdRem study, a sub-study of the Action in Diabetes and Vascular Disease: Preterax and Diamicron MR Controlled Evaluation (ADVANCE) trial. Current and past consumption of wine, spirits and beer was measured by self-report. Moderate and heavy alcohol consumption was defined as 1–14 and > 14 drinks/week, respectively. Diabetic retinopathy, measured by mydriatic stereoscopic seven-field retinal photography, was defined by a 2-step progression in the Early Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) score or the presence of any retinal vascular lesions. Deterioration of visual acuity was defined by a decrease of two lines in best vision in either eye, measured corrected, or through a pinhole using a Snellen chart.

Results  In a mean follow-up of 5.5 years, we identified 182 participants with a 2-step progression in the ETDRS score, 640 participants with the presence of any retinal vascular lesions and 693 participants with a deterioration of visual acuity. Current moderate consumption of alcohol, compared with no current consumption, was not associated with presence or progression of diabetic retinopathy; however, it was associated with higher risk of deterioration of visual acuity (multivariable-adjusted OR 1.83; 95% CI 1.34–2.48; P < 0.001).

Conclusions  Alcohol consumption is associated with increased risk of deterioration of visual acuity, but not with retinopathy in individuals with Type 2 diabetes.

View Full Article (HTML) Get PDF (92K)