OCTA observation of changes in macular vessel density in diabetic patients and its correlation with diabetic retinopathy staging : A cross-sectional study

Abstract

AbstractObjectiveTo investigate the association between disease progression and OCTA vessel density and other indices in patients with diabetic retinopathy.MethodsParticipants were selected with the following criteria: 63 patients (100 eyes) diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus, which included 44 patients (72 eyes) with diabetic retinopathy and 19 patients (28 eyes) with type 2 diabetes mellitus and non-diabetic retinopathy (NDR), who were seen at the Eye Hospital China Academy of Chinese Medical Sciences from September 2020 to July 2021. All patients underwent OCTA examination, and FAZ, PERIM, AI, FD, SVD, DVD and other indices were counted.Results(1) The correlation coefficients of SVD, paracentric SVD, DVD, paracentric DVD and DR processes were: -0.525, -0.586, -0.323, and -0.424 (P< 0.05), respectively, and all were moderately negatively correlated. (2) The correlation coefficients of FAZ and PERIM with DR process were: -0.031, 0.084 (P>0.05), respectively, and not correlated. The correlation coefficients of AI and FD with DR process were: 0.307, −0.459 (P<0.05), and with moderate positive and negative correlations, respectively. (3) The correlation coefficients of FAZ, PERIM, AI and FD with age were: -0.124, -0.052, 0.113, -0.170 (P>0.05), and no correlation, respectively.ConclusionThe disease progression of DR was moderately correlated with OCTA superficial vessel density and deep vessel density; and moderately correlated with AI and FD. OCTA could assist in the assessment of DR disease progression.