Abstract: Objective This study describes the prevalence and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a Chinese population in Beijing Changping district. Methods In a total of 8 155 Chinese between 18~79 years of age, who participated in the 2010 Health Examination Survey in Beijing representing a population of 1 600 000 citizens in the district, 3 760 subjects whose fasting plasma glucose (FPG) ≥ 5.6 mmol/L were invited to the study and 2 551 subjects completed physical examination and laboratory measurements including FPG, oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT)-2h plasma glucose (2hPG) and hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c). The grade of DR was assessed with two 45° color digital retinal images.Results Of the 2 551 persons, 280 with known diabetes, 334 with newly-diagnosed diabetes and 853 with impaired glucose regulation (IGR) were identified. The prevalence of DR in diabetes and IGR subjects was 9.9% and 1.2%, respectively. The prevalence of retinopathy was much lower in newly-diagnosed diabetes (2.7%) than in known diabetic subjects (18.6%). In diabetic patients, independent risk factors for retinopathy were longer diabetes duration ［odds ratio (OR) 1.49=(95% CI 1.38~1.62), for every one year increase］, FPG ［OR=1.32 (95% CI 1.22~1.43), per mmol/L］, 2hPG ［OR=1.18 (95% CI 1.12~1.24), per mmol/L］, HbA1c ［OR=1.66 (95% CI 1.45~1.90), per 1%］, and higher systolic blood pressure ［OR=1.16 (95% CI 1.02~1.31), per 10 mmHg(1 mmHg=0.133 kPa)］. Conclusion The prevalence of DR in patients with diabetes and pre-diabetes was much lower in this study than that reported in western countries. The major risk factors for retinopathy are longer duration of diabetes, hyperglycemia, and hypertension.

Key words: diabetic retinopathy, prevalence, risk factor, population-based