Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with diabetic macular edema

Authors

Keywords:

diabetes, diabetic retinopathy, macular edema

Abstract

Introduction: Diabetes mellitus is a major public health problem worldwide, not only due to its high prevalence but also due to its multiple complications, particularly microvascular complications. Diabetic macular edema is the leading cause of preventable vision loss in adults.

Objective: To describe the epidemiological, clinical, and ocular characteristics of patients with diabetic macular edema.

Method: A descriptive, cross-sectional study was conducted in 93 patients. The variables analyzed included age, sex, duration of diabetes, pharmacological treatment, systemic history, and presence and type of diabetic retinopathy. Summary measures such as absolute numbers and percentages were used for qualitative variables, and mean and standard deviation were used for quantitative variables.

Results: The mean age was 63.7 years (±7.94). There was a slight predominance of males (53.8%). The mean duration of diabetes was 17.6 years (±5.52), with a high percentage of patients treated with insulin (53.8%). High blood pressure was the most common systemic condition (91.4%). The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 87.66%, with the proliferative form being the most common (47.41%).

Conclusion: The presence of diabetic macular edema is closely associated with factors such as advanced age, male sex, a long history of diabetes, insulin use, and inadequate control of high blood pressure. Therefore, these risk factors may significantly influence the development of this ocular complication.

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Published

2025-12-09

How to Cite

1.
Rawhi Salem ALbadawi M, Ramos López M, Hormigó Puertas IF. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics of patients with diabetic macular edema. Rev. cuba. med. mil [Internet]. 2025 Dec. 9 [cited 2025 Dec. 28];54(4):e025076830. Available from: https://revmedmilitar.sld.cu/index.php/mil/article/view/76830

Issue

Vol. 54 No. 4 (2025): October - December

Section

Clinical Practice Article

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Copyright (c) 2025 Mohammed Rawhi Salem ALbadawi, Meisy Ramos López, Iraisi Francisca Hormigó Puertas

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