The Claim

Adults with diabetes in Ethiopia who have hypertension are three times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy than adults with diabetes in Ethiopia who do not have hypertension, independent of glycemic control and diabetes duration.

Source: Diabetic retinopathy incidence, predictors and its association with longitudinal fasting blood sugar level changes among diabetes mellitus patients in Ethiopia: joint model

What the research says

Supports is higher

Support is ahead, but a single strong opposing study can change this.

Supports
59score
Challenges
0score

These are independent scores, not a percentage. Higher-grade studies count more, so a single strong opposing study can outweigh several weaker ones.

Correlation
1 study reviewed
In plain English

Adults with diabetes in Ethiopia who also have high blood pressure are three times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy than adults with diabetes who do not have high blood pressure, regardless of how well their blood sugar is controlled or how long they have had diabetes.

See the scientific wording

Adults with diabetes in Ethiopia who have hypertension are three times more likely to develop diabetic retinopathy than those without hypertension, independent of glycemic control and diabetes duration.

Why this might work

High blood pressure forces blood through the tiny eye vessels with too much force, causing them to leak and break. This damage gets worse when blood sugar is already high, leading to fluid buildup, bleeding, and scar tissue in the retina.

Verified mechanismbased on 1 study

What the research says

1 study
  1. Study: Diabetic retinopathy incidence, predictors and its association with longitudinal fasting blood sugar level changes among diabetes mellitus patients in Ethiopia: joint model

    In Ethiopia, diabetic patients with high blood pressure were about three times more likely to develop eye damage than those without high blood pressure—even when their blood sugar and how long they had diabetes were taken into account.

Score breakdown, mechanism chain, raw evidence, ideal studies needed & 1 supporting studies

Fit Body Science verdict — we translate health claims into clear verdicts backed by peer-reviewed research.

Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.