Retinal Capillary Damage Is Already Evident in Patients With Hypertension and Prediabetes and Associated With HbA1c Levels in the Nondiabetic Range

Diabetes Care. 2022 Jun 2;45(6):1472-1475. doi: 10.2337/dc21-1569.

Abstract

Objective: We analyzed whether any change in capillary density in the retinal circulation could be detected in patients with hypertension in the prediabetic stage.

Research design and methods: In a cross-sectional analysis, we assessed capillary density in the foveal (CDF) and parafoveal retinal areas using optical coherence tomography-angiography in 62 patients with hypertension and normal glucose metabolism and 40 patients with hypertension and prediabetes.

Results: The CDF was lower in patients with prediabetes than in those with normal glucose metabolism. Moreover, we found a correlation between CDF and HbA1c and glucose levels for the entire cohort. In patients with HbA1c <6.5% (48 mmol/mol), CDF was lower in patients with HOMA for insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) ≥2.5 than in patients with HOMA-IR <2.5.

Conclusions: Patients with hypertension and prediabetes display retinal capillary changes, and an association with markers of glucose metabolism exists, even within a nondiabetic HbA1c range.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Blood Glucose / metabolism
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin / metabolism
  • Humans
  • Hypertension* / complications
  • Insulin Resistance*
  • Prediabetic State* / complications

Substances

  • Blood Glucose
  • Glycated Hemoglobin A
  • Glucose

Associated data

  • figshare/10.2337/figshare.19248581