A comparative study of panretinal photocoagulation and vitrectomy for advanced diabetic retinopathy

A retrospective, cohort study of patients with diabetic retinopathy was conducted, which assessed factors of age at the time of initial panretinal photocoagulation, sex, race [American Indian and non-Indian), and those requiring postpanretinal photocoagulation vitrectomy. Frequency analyses were used to categorize the study population by ethnicity and sex. Independent sample Student's t test were used to compare means of age, ethnicity, and sex. Layered chi2 analyses were performed to study the ethnic status of the men and women requiring vitrectomy, followed by an examination of the relationship of these three factors to the vitrectomy group using a logistic regression model. Within this 265 patient group, the American Indian male was noted to require vitrectomy more frequently and tended to receive initial panretinal phototcoagulation at a lower age.