We investigated systemic risk factors for clinically significant macula edema (CSME) within 1 year after pan-retinal photocoagulation in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy.

A retrospective chart review was performed on 171 patients who received pan-retinal photocoagulation at our hospital from January 2010 to December 2016. The patients were divided into Group Ⅰ with CSME (85 eyes) and Group II without CSME (86 eyes). The associations between presence of CSME and glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), duration of diabetes, systolic and diastolic blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), lipid status, sex, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) were evaluated.

In the present study of 171 patients, there was no significant difference in age and gender distribution between the two groups. Duration of diabetes, total serum cholesterol, serum low density lipoprotein, HbA1c, and eGFR were significantly higher in patients with CSME ( p < 0.05). Serum high-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, BMI, and systolic and diastolic BP showed no correlation with CSME. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that total serum cholesterol and HbA1c values had significantly high odds of developing CSME.

HbA1c, total serum cholesterol, and eGFR are important risk factors associated with CSME in patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy secondary to pan-retinal photocoagulation. Thus, early detection of these risk factors and their control have significant roles in preventing the development and progression of maculopathy and thereby preventing severe visual loss.