Table 1.
Differences in baseline characteristics between clusters of distinct developmental patterns of DR in the DCS population, the Netherlands
| Total DCS population | Cluster A: “persistent no DR” | Cluster B: “slow regression” | Cluster C: “slow progression from minimal to moderate DR” | Cluster D: “fast progression NPDR to PDR or treated DR” | Cluster E: “persistent PDR or treated DR” | P < 0.05 between clusters | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| n (%) | 3,343 (100) | 2,971 (88.9) | 165 (4.9) | 135 (4.0) | 47 (1.4) | 25 (0.8) | |
| Age, years | 61.0 ± 11.3 | 60.7 ± 11.3 | 63.6 ± 10.6 | 62.7 ± 12.4 | 62.2 ± 10.1 | 63.3 ± 13.7 | A < B |
| Male, % | 52.7 | 52.9 | 60.6 | 47.4 | 40.4 | 36.0 | P = 0.023 |
| Diabetes duration, years | 2 (1–5) | 2 (1–5) | 4 (1–8.3) | 5 (3–10) | 9 (3.5–13) | 12.5 (7.75–19) | P < 0.001 |
| HbA1c, % | 7.7 ± 1.8 | 7.6 ± 1.8 | 7.8 ± 1.7 | 8.4 ± 1.8 | 9.1 ± 1.9 | 9.0 ± 1.8 | A < C/D/E, B < D/E |
| FPG, mmol/L | 8.9 ± 2.5 | 8.7 ± 2.5 | 9.1 ± 2.6 | 10.2 ± 2.8 | 10.5 ± 3.3 | 11.3 ± 4.2 | A < C/D/E, B < C/D/E |
| Systolic blood pressure, mmHg | 142 ± 21 | 142 ± 21 | 145 ± 22 | 150 ± 23 | 143 ± 23 | 153 ± 25 | A < C |
| Diastolic blood pressure, mmHg | 84 ± 11 | 84 ± 11 | 84 ± 10 | 86 ± 11 | 83 ± 11 | 83 ± 15 | NS |
| BMI, kg/m2 | 30.0 ± 5.3 | 30.1 ± 5.3 | 28.7 ± 4.9 | 29.5 ± 4.6 | 29.8 ± 5.4 | 32.6 ± 5.5 | B < A/E |
| Creatinine | 93.0 ± 16.4 | 93.0 ± 16.2 | 94.7 ± 17.3 | 92.3 ± 16.7 | 91.5 ± 20.1 | 97.8 ± 21.6 | NS |
| Albumin--creatinine ratio | 3.7 ± 14.9 | 3.2 ± 14.0 | 5.9 ± 19.9 | 7.0 ± 19.8 | 9.5 ± 24.2 | 12.6 ± 23.3 | A < C/D/E |
| Total cholesterol, mmol/L | 5.5 ± 1.1 | 5.5 ± 1.1 | 5.4 ± 0.9 | 5.8 ± 1.1 | 5.8 ± 1.2 | 5.9 ± 1.0 | B < C |
| HDL cholesterol, mmol/L | 1.20 ± 0.34 | 1.19 ± 0.32 | 1.23 ± 0.33 | 1.25 ± 0.62 | 1.17 ± 0.32 | 1.24 ± 0.37 | NS |
| LDL cholesterol, mmol/L | 3.4 ± 1.0 | 3.4 ± 1.0 | 3.4 ± 0.8 | 3.7 ± 1.0 | 3.7 ± 1.0 | 3.6 ± 0.9 | NS |
| Triglycerides, mmol/L | 2.0 ± 1.4 | 2.1 ± 1.4 | 1.8 ± 0.9 | 2.1 ± 1.5 | 2.2 ± 1.6 | 2.3 ± 1.2 | NS |
| Smoking, % | 21.2 | 21.6 | 23.6 | 14.1 | 14.9 | 12.6 | NS |
| OAD use, % | 67.8 | 67.0 | 73.4 | 82.0 | 59.1 | 70.8 | P = 0.002 |
| Insulin use, % | 7.7 | 6.0 | 13.9 | 20.3 | 36.4 | 41.7 | P < 0.001 |
| Both OAD medication and insulin, % | 3.9 | 3.3 | 7.0 | 11.7 | 6.8 | 12.5 | P < 0.001 |
| Antihypertensive use, % | 47.7 | 47.7 | 56.3 | 45.3 | 27.3 | 41.7 | P = 0.13 |
| Antilipid use, % | 22.4 | 23.3 | 17.1 | 13.3 | 15.9 | 16.7 | P = 0.22 |
Data represent mean ± SD, proportions, or median (interquartile range). Between-cluster differences were tested with ANOVA and post hoc Bonferroni for mean values, with χ2 tests for proportions and Kruskal–Wallis test for median values. NPDR, nonproliferative DR; PDR, proliferative DR; NS, nonsignificant; OAD, oral antidiabetic.