Biomarkers of Allostatic Load in Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy

Diabetic retinopathy occupies a special place among the causes of the progression of decrease and loss of visual acuity, significantly impairing the quality of life and age-related viability, an integral indicator that is considered allostatic load. However, the allostatic load in patients suffering from diabetic retinopathy, as well as in other ophthalmological diseases, has not been practically studied and biomarkers characterizing the allostatic load of patients with diabetic retinopathy remain unknown.

Purpose. To study of allostatic load in patients with diabetic retinopathy and the identification of biomarkers that most determine it.

Patients and methods. Allostatic load was studied in 78 elderly patients with diabetic retinopathy and in 62 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy. Allostatic load was analyzed according to systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index, glycated hemoglobin, total cholesterol, triglycerides, albumins, C-reactive protein, homocysteine in the blood and glomerular filtration rate.

Results. The most pronounced and statistically significant excess in patients with diabetic retinopathy compared with patients with diabetes mellitus without diabetic retinopathy was found to be the content of glycated hemoglobin in the blood up to 10.2 % versus 7.4 % and homocysteine up to 15.5 mmol/l versus 7.9 mmol/l, respectively. The value of the allostatic index was significantly higher in patients with diabetic retinopathy, amounting to 4.6 ± 0.4 points, versus 2.9 ± 0.3 points in patients with diabetes mellitus without ophthalmopathology under consideration (p < 0.001). Factor analysis made it possible to identify biomarkers of allostatic load in patients with diabetic retinopathy — glycated hemoglobin, homocysteine, triglycerides and albumins.

Conclusion. These biomarkers are proposed to be used in assessing the age-related viability and effectiveness of rehabilitation measures carried out among patients with diabetic retinopathy.

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