Gange WS, Lopez J, Xu BY, et al. - This study’s findings demonstrate that a subset of patients with type 2 diabetes develops proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and other neovascular sequelae within the first 5 years following the diagnosis with type 2 diabetes. The findings revealed that these individuals may benefit from increased efforts for screening and early intervention.

• The results showed that 1.74% (1,249 of 71,817) of patients had developed PDR, 0.25% of patients had developed tractional retinal detachment, and 0.14% of patients had developed NVG at 5 years following the initial diagnosis of type 2 diabetes.

• Researchers identified insulin use (odds ratio [OR] 3.59, 95% CI 3.16–4.08), maximum HbA1c >9% or >75 mmol/mol (OR 2.10, 95% CI 1.54–2.69), renal disease (OR 2.68, 95% CI 2.09–3.42), peripheral circulatory disorders (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.25–2.83), neurological disease (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.24–2.11), and older age (age 65–74) at diagnosis (OR 1.62, 95% CI 1.28–2.03) as risk factors for development of PDR at 5 years.

• According to the findings, young age (age 18–23) at diagnosis (OR 0.46, 95% CI 0.29–0.74), Medicare insurance (OR 0.60, 95% CI 0.70–0.76), morbid obesity (OR 0.72, 95% CI 0.59–0.87), and smoking (OR 0.84, 95% CI 0.70–1.00) were distinguished as protective factors.