Improved glycaemic control and cardiovascular risk in patients with DM-II following Cataract Phacoemulsification surgery

Abstract Objective: Assess the glycemic control and cardiovascular risk (CV risk) change in Diabetes-Mellitus type II (DM-II patients) undergoing uncomplicated bilateral cataract phacoemulsification surgery. Design: Retrospective study. Participants: We selected 28 patients who underwent uncomplicated bilateral cataract surgery at Centro Hospitalar de Entre o Douro e Vouga between January 2018 and December 2019. Inclusion criteria: inexistence of other known ophthalmological pathology, the availability of their records of comorbidities, lipid profile, blood pressure, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and body max index (BMI) prior to and in the 6 months following surgery. Methods: We assessed our patient cohort for changes in HbA1c, lipid profile, BMI and blood pressure before and after surgery. We further subdivided our patient cohort in 2 different groups: group 1 – no to mild visual impairment, ≤0.48 LogMAR; group 2 – moderate to severe visual impairment, >0.48 LogMAR, and assessed for the same variables at the mentioned timepoints. Comparisons were done using paired samples Student’s T-test or Wilcoxon rank, and repeated measures ANOVA with Tukey Post-Hoc tests, respectively. Results: Following cataract surgery and subsequent improved visual acuity (VA), our patient cohort showed decreased HbA1c, lower arterial blood pressure and decreased BMI, with an improved CV risk score within 6 months of cataract surgery. These improvements where more evident in the patients with worse baseline VA. Conclusions: Phacoemulsification cataract surgery should be considered in patients with visual impairment, particularly in those that benefit from improved glycemic control and whom need to reduced their cardiovascular risk, such as DM-II patients.