The Study
Diabetic retinopathy incidence, predictors and its association with longitudinal fasting blood sugar level changes among diabetes mellitus patients in Ethiopia: joint model
This study looked at people with diabetes over time and noticed that those with higher blood sugar levels were more likely to develop eye problems. But it didn't prove that high sugar caused the eye problems—maybe other things like diet or access to doctors played a role too.
Analysis score
Maximum 72 for a cohort study.
Where the score came from
This study looked at people newly diagnosed with diabetes in Ethiopia to see who developed eye damage from high blood sugar.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 559 / 100
Quality score
Groups of people are followed over time to see who develops an outcome. Strong for identifying risk factors and associations, but cannot prove causation as firmly as RCTs.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes — even after accounting for other factors, sustained high blood sugar over months strongly increases the chance of vision-damaging eye disease.
- 2Over 4 years, about 12 out of 100 people got eye damage.
- 3Those with higher blood sugar 3 months earlier were 4.2 times more likely to get it.
- 4Rural residents, those with high blood pressure, and those with diabetes over 5 years were also at higher risk.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Frontiers in Endocrinology
Year
2024
Authors
H. Abuhay, A. Lakew, H. F. Wolde, Berhanu Mengistu, Mandefro Tadesse Legesse, M. K. Yenit
Related Content
Claims (6)
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.
In adults newly diagnosed with diabetes in Ethiopia, consistently higher fasting blood sugar levels over three months are linked to a 4.2 times greater likelihood of developing diabetic retinopathy.
Adults in Ethiopia who are newly diagnosed with diabetes and live in rural areas are more than twice as likely to develop diabetic retinopathy as those living in urban areas, even when accounting for blood sugar levels and other health conditions.
Adults in Ethiopia with diabetes for more than five years develop diabetic retinopathy at more than twice the rate of those with diabetes for less than five years.
Among people newly diagnosed with diabetes in Ethiopia, 2.97 out of every 100 develop diabetic retinopathy each year.
Persistently high blood glucose levels damage the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to leakage, abnormal growth of blood vessels, and blockages.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.