It is estimated that 27% of diabetic patients worldwide suffer from retinopathy.
A study conducted by Oxford Population Health demonstrated that cholesterol-lowering drugs may reduce the risk of eye disease in people with diabetes.
The Scottish Nonproliferative Retinopathy Event Reduction (LENS) trial is investigating the effect of fenofibrate on retinopathy in patients with diabetes and early retinopathy.
Diabetes, which is estimated to affect approximately 415 million people worldwide, is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by elevated blood sugar levels that can cause serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
Globally, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients is estimated to be 27%.
The LENS trial compared the effects of fenofibrate with placebo in 1,151 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes and early to moderate diabetic retinopathy in Scotland as part of a national diabetic eye screening programme.
Fenofibrate, sold under several brand names including AbbVie’s Tricor and Teva’s Rofibra, has been used for more than 30 years to treat and lower high levels of cholesterol and triglycerides (fat-like substances) in the blood.
Published in NEJM EvidenceResults showed that fenofibrate reduced the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy by 27% and reduced the risk of needing specialist care or referral for treatment over four years compared to placebo.
Additionally, cholesterol-lowering drugs were shown to be associated with a lower risk of developing macular edema (swelling at the back of the eye) and a lower risk of needing treatment for retinopathy compared to placebo.
Dr David Price, Associate Professor in the School of Population Health at the University of Oxford, commented: “Fenofibrate has the potential to be a valuable adjunct to the treatment of patients with early to moderate diabetic retinopathy.”
Dr Lucy Chambers, head of research and communications at Diabetes UK, said: “We are excited about the positive results from this large trial of a new treatment to slow the progression of eye damage, which could benefit many people with diabetes in the UK.”
