Association of Mean Platelet Volume and Glycated Hemoglobin with Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Cross-Sectional Study

Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus (DM), is a leading cause of preventable blindness. Recent interest has emerged regarding the role of mean platelet volume (MPV), a marker of platelet activation, in the pathophysiology of diabetic complications. Objective: This study aimed to assess the relationship between MPV, glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and the presence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 100 diabetic patients. Systematic random sampling was employed. Demographic details, duration of diabetes, treatment modality, MPV, and HbA1c levels were recorded. DR status was classified based on fundoscopic examination. Statistical analyses included t-tests, ANOVA, and Pearson correlation. Results: DR was observed in 60% of participants. MPV and HbA1c levels were significantly higher in patients with DR (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was found between MPV and HbA1c (r = significant), as well as MPV and duration of diabetes. Conclusion: Elevated MPV correlates with poor glycemic control and the presence of DR. MPV could serve as a simple, cost-effective marker for the early detection and monitoring of microvascular complications in patients with Diabetes mellitus.