Clinical and biochemical characteristics of individuals with type 2 diabetes classified by diabetic retinopathy severity (at baseline)
| Variables | Overall (n=19 909) | No DR (n=12 091) | NPDR (n=7381) | PDR (n=437) | P value |
| Male, n (%) | 13 151 (66.1) | 7599 (62.8) | 5229 (70.8) | 323 (73.9) | <0.001 |
| Age (years) | 59.6±10.2 | 58.4±10.5 | 61.3±9.6 | 62.1±8.7 | <0.001 |
| Age at onset of DM (years) | 43.5±9.1 | 44.8±9.2 | 41.5±8.5 | 40.2±8.3 | <0.001 |
| Duration of DM (years) | 11.1±12.1 | 9.3±14.1 | 13.7±7.4 | 16.1±7.0 | <0.001 |
| Systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 129.7±16.8 | 128.3±16.1 | 131.7±17.2 | 136.3±19.6 | <0.001 |
| Diastolic blood pressure (mm Hg) | 79.3±9.6 | 79.3±8.4 | 79.3±11.2 | 80.3±9.5 | 0.104 |
| Body mass index (kg/m²) | 26.9±4.2 | 27.2±4.2 | 26.5±4.1 | 26.4±4.1 | <0.001 |
| Fasting plasma glucose (mg/dL) | 162.5±61.6 | 156.4±57.0 | 171.4±66.3 | 181.2±76.1 | <0.001 |
| HbA1c (%) | 8.4±1.9 | 8.1±1.8 | 8.8±1.9 | 9.5±1.8 | <0.001 |
| Total cholesterol (mg/dL) | 165.2±41.9 | 167.1±41.3 | 161.9±42.4 | 168.1±46.8 | <0.001 |
| Triglycerides (mg/dL) | 160.4±122.7 | 162.3±128.8 | 156.2±110.0 | 176.7±146.7 | <0.001 |
| HDL cholesterol (mg/dL) | 39.8±8.9 | 39.8±8.8 | 39.8±9.2 | 39.4±9.2 | 0.639 |
| LDL cholesterol | 94.2±34.0 | 95.9±34.0 | 91.4±33.8 | 94.8±36.1 | <0.001 |
| Urea (mg/dL) | 24.0±8.6 | 23.0±7.3 | 25.3±9.7 | 30.7±14.2 | <0.001 |
| Creatinine (mg/dL) | 0.81±0.27 | 0.78±0.21 | 0.85±0.32 | 1.03±0.50 | <0.001 |
| Number of individuals with eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2, n (%) | 1062 (5.3) | 401 (3.3) | 572 (7.7) | 89 (20.4) | <0.001 |
| Number of individuals with microalbuminuria, n (%) | 4784 (24.0) | 2122 (17.6) | 2385 (32.3) | 277 (63.4) | <0.001 |
| Diabetes treatment, n (%) | |||||
| OHA alone | 12 342 (62.0) | 9149 (75.7) | 3149 (42.7) | 44 (10.1) | <0.001 |
| Insulin alone | 896 (4.5) | 357 (3.0) | 486 (6.6) | 53 (12.1) | |
| Both OHA and insulin | 6671 (33.5) | 2585 (21.4) | 3746 (50.8) | 340 (77.8) | |
| Number of individuals on antihypertensive treatment, n | 10 219 | 5769 | 4144 | 306 | |
| Angiotensin II receptor blockers, n (%) | 6833 (66.9) | 3764 (65.2) | 2856 (68.9) | 213 (69.7) | <0.001 |
| ACE inhibitors, n (%) | 675 (6.6) | 393 (6.8) | 267 (6.5) | 15 (4.9) | 0.389 |
| Beta blockers, n (%) | 1342 (13.1) | 800 (13.9) | 503 (12.1) | 39 (12.7) | 0.159 |
| Calcium channel blockers n (%) | 1369 (13.4) | 812 (14.1) | 518 (12.5) | 39 (12.7) | 0.167 |
The statistically signficant p values are in bold.
DM, diabetes mellitus; DR, diabetic retinopathy; eGFR, estimated glomerular filtration rate; HbA1c, glycated hemoglobin; HDL, high-density lipoprotein; LDL, low-density lipoprotein; NPDR, non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy; OHA, oral hypoglycemic agent; PDR, proliferative diabetic retinopathy.