Correlation between Diabetic Retinopathy and The Severity of Coronary Artery Disease Determined by Coronary Angiography in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus

Background: Diabetes mellitus [DM] is one of the most widespread chronic diseases. It is commonly known by its serious vascular complications including micro-vascular [as retinopathy] and macro-vascular [as ischemic heart diseases] complications. So, a correlation between those complications may be found. Aim of the work: To investigate the correlation between diabetic retinopathy and increased risk of coronary artery diseases. Patients and methods: This study enrolled fifty patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus [DM] who were referred for coronary angiography. Full History, clinical examination, biochemical tests, electrocardiography [ECG], Echocardiography, coronary angiography and fundus examination were carried out. Diabetic retinopathy was detected and classified; patients were classified into two groups: a group [A] with diabetic retinopathy [DR] and a group [B] without diabetic retinopathy. Coronary diseases were assisted by coronary angiography using two different scores. Results: Population characters, including age, risk factors, duration of DM, lipid profile, angiography scores, were comparable between the two study groups. Patients in group [A] had significantly higher number of diseased vessels and higher Gensini score than those of Group [B]. The correlation was significant between the presence of the DR and both the number of diseased vessels [r = 0.532 P < 0.001] and Gensini score [r = 0.881, P < 0.001]. Conclusion: The diabetic retinopathy is a serious risk factor for increasing the severity of coronary artery diseases and can consider as a predictor of CHD in patients with DR.