Retinopathy among Chinese subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Shanghai: A community‐based follow‐up study

Objective To determine the incidence, progression, and regression rates of diabetic retinopathy (DR), as well as their associated factors, in Chinese type 2 diabetic patients. Methods Diabetic patients who participated in a previous survey were recruited for a 1‐year follow‐up study. Nonmydriatic fundus photographs were acquired to assess the severity of DR as per the International Clinical Diabetic Retinopathy Disease Severity Scale (2002). Factors that potentially influence DR outcomes, including its incidence, progression, and regression, were identified via statistical analyses. Results We initially recruited 2453 subjects, among whom 2331 were followed and included in the final analysis. The incidences of new and progressed (ie, ≥2 scale steps) DR were 10.6% and 6.1%, respectively. Moreover, 7.3% of patients with established DR at baseline experienced complete regression. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that high glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.50, P = .021) and hyperlipidaemia (OR = 1.46, P = .025) were independent predictors of DR development, high HbA1c (OR = 4.16, P = .027) and macroalbuminuria (OR = 5.60, P = .010) predicted DR progression, and low HbA1c (OR = 0.20, P = .001) and low triglyceride levels (OR = 0.34, P = .026) were associated with DR regression. Conclusions Albumin and HbA1c levels should be closely monitored as signs of progressive retinal damage in diabetic subjects. Optimized control of glucose and triglyceride levels is vital for reducing the incidence of DR or promoting its regression in afflicted patients.