Analysis of clinical characteristics of diabetic retinopathy: A retrospective, single-centre clinical study

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the variations in clinical characteristics, metabolic profiles, and visual status across different stages of diabetic retinopathy (DR) to enable early intervention.

Methodology: A retrospective analysis of patients with diabetes was conducted at Shijiazhuang People’s Hospital from January 2024 to December 2025. Patients were categorized based on DR severity as follows: no DR (n=31), non-proliferative DR (NPDR, n=33), and proliferative DR (PDR, n=32). A comparative analysis was performed on clinical parameters (age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, diabetes duration, hypertension, hyperlipidemia), metabolic indices (fasting glucose, HbA1c), and ocular measures (central macular thickness [CMT], macular volume [MV], intraretinal cysts, best-corrected visual acuity).

Results: Among the 96 patients, significant intergroup differences were observed in BMI (P=0.007), diabetes duration (P=0.002), and hyperlipidemia prevalence (P=0.015), but not in metabolic parameters (all P>0.05). Ocular parameters, including CMT, MV, LogMAR visual acuity, and intraretinal cysts, differed significantly across the groups (all P<0.001). The PDR group exhibited the highest values (CMT: 361.25±166.55 μm; MV: 11.73±2.72 mm³; LogMAR: 1.27±0.93; intraretinal cysts: 37.5%) versus no-DR (260.94±31.91 μm, 9.37±0.81 mm³, 0.16±0.18, 0.0%) and NPDR groups (276.94±42.30 μm, 9.59±0.95 mm³, 0.27±0.18, 3.0%).

Conclusion: Advanced DR is associated with prolonged diabetes duration and significant ocular structural and functional impairments. Enhanced macular OCT screening, particularly in patients with long-standing diabetes, is crucial for the early detection of DR progression, timely intervention, and the preservation of visual function.