Diabetes Care, Vol 8, Issue 4 311-315, Copyright © 1985 by American Diabetes Association
Retinopathy in young-onset diabetic patients
R Klein, BE Klein, SE Moss, MD Davis and DL DeMets
The relative importance of duration of diabetes before and after 13 yr of
age as a risk factor for retinopathy was investigated using data from 200
persons who were younger than 26 yr of age. These persons were identified
in a population-based study of diabetic retinopathy in southern Wisconsin
in 1980-1982. Retinopathy was found in 9% of persons who were younger than
13 yr and in 34% of persons who were 13 yr or older and had been diagnosed
at or after 13 yr. Presence of retinopathy was more strongly associated
with the duration of diabetes after 13 yr of age than before it.