Early onset type 2 diabetes (EOD) seems to have an aggressive disease progression with a higher risk for diabetes complications at an early age. Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is poorly executed in primary care of low-and-middle income countries. Thus, we aimed to analyze the characteristics of EOD in comparison with later-onset group. Data were obtained from the largest cohort of patients evaluated for DR within the primary care in Mexico (DIABEMPIC program) . Early and later-onset groups were defined as age of diagnosis <40 and ≥40 years, respectively. DR assessment by an ophthalmologist included fundoscopy with a mydriatic camera. Proliferative DR and severe non-proliferative DR were considered as severe DR. A total of 3063 patients with T2D were included of which 9had EOD. Prevalence of DR and severe DR was significantly higher in the EOD group than in the later-onset group (p<0.0001) ; however, an increase in the prevalence of DR and severe DR was observed after years of diagnosis (p<0.0001) . Burden of DR at different diabetes durations are shown in Table 1. EOD was associated with increased risk of DR compared with late onset T2D (OR 2.18, 95%CI 1.85-2.57) .
In conclusion, EOD patients with regular primary care presented a higher risk of DR and of severe DR not only explained for longer disease duration. Our study enhances the need for the management of DR risk factors and proper screening of DR in patients with T2D, especially in EOD.
R.Silva-tinoco: n/a. E.León-garcía: None. J.Ochoa-moreno: n/a. O.Lopez-arellano: None. T.Cuatecontzi-xochitiotzi: None. D.Cabrera-gerardo: n/a. V.Delatorre-saldaña: None. L.Castillo-martinez: None. F.Bernal-ceballos: None. E.B.Guzman: None. S.Bouchan-delino: None. A.Ramirez: None.
