# The Contributions of Glycated Hemoglobin (HbA1c), Triglycerides, and Hypertension to Diabetic Retinopathy: Insights From a Meta-Analysis

## TL;DR

This study finds that poor blood sugar control and high triglycerides are strongly linked to diabetic retinopathy, while high blood pressure shows a weaker connection.

## Contribution

The study provides a meta-analysis confirming the role of glycemic control and triglycerides in diabetic retinopathy risk.

## Key findings

- Elevated glycated hemoglobin is strongly associated with increased diabetic retinopathy risk.
- Triglyceride levels and diabetes duration over 10 years show positive but weaker associations with DR.
- Hypertension is a potential risk factor but not statistically significant across all studies.

## Abstract

This meta-analysis aims to synthesize evidence on the association between key risk factors and the development of diabetic retinopathy (DR), a major complication of diabetes mellitus. We systematically reviewed and analyzed data from 11 studies published up to April 2023, focusing on the impact of poor glycemic control, triglyceride levels, duration of diabetes exceeding 10 years, and hypertension on DR risk. Odds ratios (ORs) were calculated using a random-effects model to account for heterogeneity among studies. Elevated fasting blood glucose and glycated hemoglobin levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of DR (OR: 2.41, 95% CI: 1.63-3.57), highlighting the importance of glycemic control. Triglyceride levels and the duration of diabetes over 10 years also showed positive associations with DR risk, albeit with weaker effect sizes. Hypertension was identified as a potential risk factor, although the association was not statistically significant across all studies. Moderate-to-high heterogeneity was observed across the analyses, underscoring the multifactorial nature of DR. This meta-analysis confirms the critical role of glycemic control in preventing DR and identifies other important risk factors, including triglyceride levels and prolonged diabetes duration. The findings emphasize the need for comprehensive diabetes management strategies to mitigate the risk of DR. Future research should explore the mechanisms underlying these associations and develop targeted interventions.