Early Retinal Vessel Changes In Diabetes and the Metabolic Syndrome

Funding Activity

Website
http://purl.org/au-research/grants/nhmrc/350448

Funding Status
Closed

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Funded Activity Summary

Diabetes mellitus affects a large proportion of adult Australians. Furthermore, many non-diabetic Australians are at high risk of developing diabetes (e.g., people with lesser glucose abnormalities, and those who are obese, have high blood pressure, or have high lipid levels). It has been suggested that diseases affecting small blood vessels (microvascular disease) in the body is closely related to the development of both diabetes and the pre-diabetes state. The current study will examine the relationship of microvascular disease in the retina (at the back of the eye) to diabetes, pre-diabetes status and diabetes complications. We will use a computer-imaging technique to measure the diameters of retinal blood vessel from digital photographs taken in 2,177 participants of the 1999-2000 Australian Diabetes, Obesity and Lifestyle (AusDiab) Study, a community-based survey of people aged 25 years and older examining risk factors and complications of diabetes. In the proposed study, we aim to answer the following questions: 1) Are changes in the retinal blood vessel diameter (e.g., narrowed or dilated vessels) associated with diabetes and pre-diabetes? 2) Are these retinal vessel changes related to obesity, high blood pressure and high lipid levels? 3) Are retinal vessel changes related to diabetes complications, such as heart disease, kidney disease, nerve problems and foot ulcers? 4) Do retinal vessel diameter changes predict people who will subsequently develop diabetes, irrespective of their risk factor profile? Using this well-characterized population, and existing digital retinal photographs, the proposed study will offer a unique and cost-effective opportunity to address important gaps in our understanding of how diabetes and pre-diabetes develop, and whether they are related to microvascular diseases. This may ultimately lead to new treatment and preventive approaches targeted at the small blood vessels in the body.

Funded Activity Details

Start Date: 01-01-2005

End Date: 01-01-2007

Funding Scheme: NHMRC Project Grants

Funding Amount: $212,500.00

Funder: National Health and Medical Research Council

Research Topics

ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)

Endocrinology

ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)

There are no SEO codes available for this funding activity

Other Keywords

Cardiovascular diseases | Diabetes mellitus | Epidemiologic studies | Metabolic syndrome | Retinal vessels

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