Association of Gastric Bypass Surgery With Risk of Developing Diabetic Retinopathy Among Patients With Obesity and Type 2 Diabetes in Sweden: An Observational Study.

Importance: Knowledge of the incidence and progression of diabetic retinopathy (DR) after gastric bypass surgery (GBP) in patients with obesity and diabetes could guide the management of these patients. Objective: To investigate the incidence of diabetic ocular complications in patients with type 2 diabetes after GBP compared with the incidence of diabetic ocular complications in a matched cohort of patients with obesity and diabetes who have not undergone GBP. Design, Setting, and Participants: Data from 2 nationwide registers in Sweden, the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry and the National Diabetes Register, were used for this cohort study. A total of 5321 patients with diabetes from the Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry who had undergone GBP from January 1, 2007, to December 31, 2013, were matched with 5321 patients with diabetes from the National Diabetes Register who had not undergone GBP, based on sex, age, body mass index (BMI), and calendar time (2007-2013). Follow-up data were obtained until December 31, 2015. Statistical analysis was performed from October 5, 2018, to September 30, 2019. Exposure: Gastric bypass surgery. Main Outcomes and Measures: Incidence of new DR and other diabetic ocular complications. Results: The study population consisted of 5321 patients who had undergone GBP (3223 women [60.6%]; mean [SD] age, 49.0 [9.5] years) and 5321 matched controls (3395 women [63.8%]; mean [SD] age, 47.1 [11.5] years). Mean (SD) follow-up was 4.5 (1.6) years. The mean (SD) BMI and hemoglobin A1c concentration at baseline were 42.0 (5.7) and 7.6% (1.5%), respectively, in the GBP group and 40.9 (7.3) and 7.5% (1.5%), respectively, in the control group. The mean (SD) duration of diabetes was 6.8 (6.3) years in the GBP group and 6.4 (6.4) years in the control group. The risk for new DR was reduced in the patients who underwent GBP (hazard ratio, 0.62 [95% CI, 0.49-0.78]; P < .001). The dominant risk factors for development of DR at baseline were diabetes duration, hemoglobin A1c concentration, use of insulin, glomerular filtration rate, and BMI. Conclusions and Relevance: This nationwide matched cohort study suggests that there is a reduced risk of developing new DR associated with GBP, and no evidence of an increased risk of developing DR that threatened sight or required treatment.

Better visual outcome at 1 year with antivascular endothelial growth factor treatment according to treat-and-extend compared with pro re nata in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration.

PURPOSE: To evaluate treatment outcome at 12 months in eyes with neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD) treated with antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) injections according to either pro re nata (PRN)- or treat-and-extend (TE)-regimen in one clinical setting in Sweden. METHODS: Data were obtained retrospectively from the Swedish Macula Register, optical coherence tomography-database and electronic patient charts. The study included 443 eyes; 223 PRN- and 220 TE-treated eyes. Baseline (BL) characteristics and follow-up data at 6 and 12 months were collected. Statistical regression analysis was performed to evaluate association between treatment strategy and visual outcome at 12 months. RESULTS: Baseline (BL) characteristics were well balanced between cohorts. Visual acuity at 12 months was higher in TE-cohort 66.5 (13.1) compared to PRN-cohort 60.1 (17.6) (p = 0.000). Visual improvement at 12 months was +5.2 (11.8) and +1.2 (12.7) letters Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) in TE- and PRN-cohorts, respectively (p = 0.002). Number of administered injections at 12 months was 10.2 (2.1) and 6.3 (2.1) in the two cohorts (p = 0.000). Statistical analysis demonstrated a strong association between TE treatment strategy and improvement in visual acuity at 12 months. CONCLUSION: Eyes treated according to TE had better visual outcome at 12 months. The results indicate that treatment according to proactive TE-regimen is superior to treatment according to PRN-regimen in clinical routine care of nAMD.

Gastric bypass surgery does not increase the risk for sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

PURPOSE: To study the occurrence and level of diabetic retinopathy (DRP) before and after planned bariatric surgery and to investigate potential risk factors for deterioration of DRP. METHODS: The Scandinavian Obesity Surgery Registry (SOReg) was used to identify diabetic patients who underwent gastric bypass (GBP) surgery at three centres in Sweden during 2008-2010. Information regarding DRP screening was obtained from ophthalmological patient charts. Patients who had DRP screening before and after GBP surgery were included in the study. RESULTS: The survey included 117 patients. Mean age was 50 (SD 10) years, body mass index (BMI) 43 (SD 8) kg/m2 and HbA1c 64 (SD 18) mmol/mol before surgery. One year post-GBP, BMI was reduced to 31 (SD 6) kg/m2 . HbA1c was 43 (SD 10) mmol/mol, and in 66% (77/117) treatment for diabetes had been discontinued. Occurrence of DRP before GBP was as follows: no DRP 62%, mild 26%, moderate 10%, severe 0% and proliferative DRP 2%. No significant changes in occurrence of DRP after surgery were observed. Twelve patients (16%) developed mild DRP. In seven patients with pre-existing DRP, deterioration was observed and two of these patients required treatment for sight-threatening DRP. No association between preoperative BMI, HbA1c or reduction in HbA1c and worsening of DRP was found. CONCLUSION: In a majority of patients, no deterioration of DRP following GBP was observed. Screening for DRP before planned surgery is recommended for all diabetic patients about to undergo bariatric surgery to identify any pre-existing DRP.