Progress of diabetic retinopathy up to 24 years in patients with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: a cohort study from the Skaraborgs Diabetes Register
Authors' conclusion
During follow-up, 926 patients developed DR, whereas 101 developed STDR. Higher HbA1c and antihypertensive treatment were associated with a higher risk of developing DR and STDR, while higher age at diagnosis and diagnosis in 1999-2004 versus 1996-1998 were associated with lower risk.
Study context
- Population
- Patients in the Swedish Skaraborg Diabetes Register diagnosed with T2D in 1996–2004, ≤70 years at diagnosis and without diabetic retinopathy (DR) at first eye examination; followed through 31 December 2021
- Participants
- 2,267 patients
- Outcome
- Cumulative incidence of DR and sight-threatening DR (STDR)
- Follow-up
- 10 and 20 years
Methodological detailsregister-based, Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence, multivariate Cox regression
- Register-based
- Kaplan-Meier cumulative incidence
- Multivariate Cox regression
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
- Developed DR during follow-up
- 926
- Developed sight-threatening DR (STDR) during follow-up
- 101
- Cumulative incidence of DR at 10 years
- 29.0%
- Cumulative incidence of DR at 20 years
- 67.6%
- Cumulative incidence of STDR at 10 years
- 1.4%
- Cumulative incidence of STDR at 20 years
- 11.4%
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Risk factors for DR (multivariate Cox regression)
- Higher HbA1c, HR per 1 mmol/mol
- 1.02 (95% CI 1.01 to 1.02)
- Antihypertensive treatment at diagnosis, HR
- 1.26 (95% CI 1.08 to 1.47)
- Higher age, HR per year
- 0.98 (95% CI 0.97 to 0.98)
- Diagnosis in 1999-2004 vs 1996-1998, HR
- 0.58 (95% CI 0.51 to 0.66)
Original publication
Progress of diabetic retinopathy up to 24 years in patients with type 2 diabetes in Sweden: a cohort study from the Skaraborgs Diabetes Register. BMJ Open Diabetes Res Care. Published 15 October 2025. doi:10.
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