Related Experiment Videos
Systemic Anemia and the Risk of Diabetic Macular Edema and Anti-VEGF Injections
Jawad Muayad1, Fahad R Butt2, Asad Loya3
1Department of Ophthalmology, Harvey and Bernice Jones Eye Institute, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Ophthalmology. Retina
|June 26, 2026
Summary
Anemia increases the risk of diabetic macular edema (DME) and the need for anti-VEGF injections in type 2 diabetes patients. Iron supplementation may reduce this risk, suggesting anemia is a modifiable factor.
Area of Science:
- Ophthalmology
- Endocrinology
- Hematology
Background:
- Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a leading cause of vision loss in type 2 diabetes (T2DM).
- Anemia is a common comorbidity in T2DM patients.
- The relationship between anemia severity and DME risk is not well-established.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between anemia severity and the 1-year risk of developing DME.
- To examine the relationship between anemia severity and the need for anti-VEGF injections in T2DM patients.
- To assess the impact of iron supplementation on DME risk in anemic T2DM patients.
Main Methods:
- Multicenter retrospective cohort study of T2DM patients.
- Stratification by hemoglobin levels and propensity score matching.
- Sensitivity analysis for iron supplementation and negative control outcomes.
Main Results:
- A stepwise increase in DME risk was observed with increasing anemia severity.
- Anti-VEGF injection rates rose with anemia severity.
- Iron supplementation was associated with a reduced risk of DME (HR 0.86).
Conclusions:
- Anemia is associated with a graded increase in DME risk and anti-VEGF treatment burden.
- Anemia may be a modifiable risk factor in DME pathogenesis.
- Prospective studies are warranted to confirm these findings.
Related Concept Videos
01:27Diabetic Retinopathy
DefinitionDiabetic retinopathy is a microvascular complication of diabetes affecting the retinal blood vessels.Risk FactorsDiabetic retinopathy is present in almost all individuals with type 1 diabetes and more than 60% of those with type 2 diabetes after two decades of disease.The risk increases with poor glycemic control, hypertension, dyslipidemia, smoking, pregnancy, and puberty.Although cataracts and glaucoma are also more frequent in people with diabetes, retinopathy remains the leading...
01:28Diabetic Nephropathy
Definition Diabetic nephropathy is a chronic kidney complication that results from prolonged hyperglycemia.Prevalence It is the most common cause of chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease (ESRD) worldwide, affecting up to half of individuals with diabetes.Pathophysiology • Sustained hyperglycemia triggers multiple hemodynamic and metabolic changes in the kidney. • Early in the disease, increased renal blood flow and glomerular hyperfiltration occur due to afferent arteriolar...
01:22Complications of Diabetes Mellitus
Diabetes mellitus is a chronic metabolic disorder characterized by persistent hyperglycemia due to insulin deficiency, resistance, or both. Prolonged hyperglycemia disrupts metabolic homeostasis and leads to acute and chronic complications.Acute ComplicationsAcute complications result from sudden metabolic imbalance.Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) mainly appears in type 1 diabetes but may also develop in type 2 diabetes, particularly under extreme stress. It arises from severe insulin deficiency,...
01:22Diabetes Mellitus: Type 2 and Gestational
Type 2 diabetes, characterized by insulin resistance, arises when the insulin receptors on cells lose responsiveness to insulin, diminishing the cell's capacity to take up glucose, resulting in elevated blood glucose levels. To receive a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, a series of blood glucose tests are necessary to assess whether the blood glucose falls within normal parameters. If the result is out of the normal range, a patient may be diagnosed as prediabetic or diabetic, depending on the...
01:26Type I Diabetes II: Pathophysiology
Type 1 diabetes mellitus arises from an immune-mediated destruction of pancreatic β-cells, resulting in an absolute deficiency of insulin. This process develops in genetically susceptible individuals when autoimmunity, environmental exposures, and immunologic dysregulation converge to trigger a targeted attack on the insulin-producing cells of the pancreas. The β-cells are located within the islets of Langerhans and are essential for regulating blood glucose by facilitating cellular uptake of...