Publication:

Correlation of statin therapy and severity of diabetic retinopathy at a tertiary care hospital in Northern India: a randomised control trial

Background Aim was to study the correlation between statin therapy and the severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Methods A randomised control trial was performed at a tertiary care hospital in northern India. The severity of diabetic retinopathy was compared between statin and non-statin users from the fundus examination and medical records of patients presenting to the Outpatient department from July 2022 to May 2023. A total of 100 patients with diabetic retinopathy were enrolled in the study, all meeting the inclusion criteria. The patients were divided into statin users and nonusers. The results were analysed to compare the severity of DR between the two groups.

Results Out of 45 statin users, 28 (62.2%) had mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR), 10 (22.2%) had a moderate grade of NPDR, 5 (11.1%) had severe NPDR, 1 (2.22%) had PDR and 1 (2.22%) patient had diabetic macular edema (DME). Out of 55 non-statin users, 10 (18.18%) had mild diabetic NPDR, 16 (29.09%) had a moderate grade of NPDR, 16 (29.09%) had severe NPDR, 8(14.54%) had PDR and 4 (7.27%) patients had DME and 1 (1.81%) patient presented with both DME and vitreous haemorrhage (VH).

Conclusions In type 2 diabetic patients, patients on statins had significantly lower grades of retinopathy as compared to those who were not taking statins. Thus, statins can be given prophylactically to lower the severity of diabetic retinopathy.