To study and analyze the association of diabetic retinopathy and its severity with left ventricular dysfunction and hypertrophy among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients – A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study

Objectives: Diabetes is among the prevalent contributors to vision loss. Due to similarity in their risk factors and pathophysiology, an association between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and cardiovascular events is expected. The objective of the study was to analyze the effects of different types of DR on left ventricular hypertrophy and dysfunction in patients with type 2 diabetes. Material and Methods: A hospital-based analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from 2020 to 2022 in a tertiary care facility in Tamil Nadu, and it analyzed the data of patients with type 2 diabetes for over 5 years. The participants were divided into two groups: Non-proliferative DR (NPDR) and proliferative DR (PDR). Results: In the present study, with respect to DR, the echo results showed a strong connection between the left ventricular mass, end diastolic diameter, mean E wave/A wave ratio, and mean isovolumetric relaxation time. There was also a correlation between the echo results and the volume of the mitral regurgitation jet. Furthermore, we found that 29 cases with left ventricular dysfunction (LVD) had NPDR, while 32 cases without LVD had PDR ( P < 0.05). Conclusion: Regular screening of all diabetic patients for potential complications, followed by strain echocardiography for high-risk individuals, is crucial for early detection and management. It is a cost-effective strategy for diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis. A key takeaway from this study is the importance of identifying high-risk patients during their asymptomatic stage by assessing microvascular complications.