An estimated 27% of patients globally living with diabetes will be affected by retinopathy
A study conducted by Oxford Population Health has demonstrated that a cholesterol-lowering drug could help reduce the risk of eye disease in people living with diabetes.
The Lowering Events in Non-proliferative retinopathy in Scotland (LENS) trial has been investigating the effect of fenofibrate on retinopathy in patients living with diabetes and early retinopathy.
Estimated to affect around 415 million people worldwide, diabetes is a chronic, metabolic disease that is characterised by elevated levels of blood glucose, which can lead to serious damage to the heart, blood vessels, eyes, kidneys and nerves.
Globally, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients is estimated to be 27%.
As part of the national routine diabetic eye screening programme, the LENS trial compared the effects of fenofibrate with a placebo in 1,151 adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes in Scotland who had early-to-moderate diabetic retinopathy.
Sold under several brand names, including Tricor by AbbVie and Lofibra by Teva, fenofibrate has been used for more than three decades to reduce and treat high cholesterol and triglyceride (fat-like substances) levels in the blood.
Published in NEJM Evidence, results showed that fenofibrate reduced the risk of progression of diabetic retinopathy by 27%, lowering the risk of needing to be referred for specialist care or treatment over four years compared to placebo.
In addition, the cholesterol-lowering drug was associated with a lower risk of developing macular oedema, swelling at the back of the eye, as well as a lower risk of requiring treatment for retinopathy compared to placebo.
Dr David Preiss, associate professor, Oxford Population Health, commented: “Fenofibrate may… provide a valuable addition to treat people with early-to-moderate diabetic retinopathy.”
Dr Lucy Chambers, head of research communications, Diabetes UK, said “We’re excited by the positive results from this major trial of a new treatment to slow progression of eye damage, which has the potential to benefit many people with diabetes in the UK.”
