To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study

Background The optimal screening interval for diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains controversial. This study aimed to develop a risk algorithm to predict the individual risk of referable sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) in a mainly Chinese population and to provide evidence for risk-based...

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Main Authors: Jinxiao Lian, Ching So, Sarah Morag McGhee, Thuan-quoc Thach, Cindy Lo Kuen Lam, Colman Siu Cheung Fung, Alfred Siu Kei Kwong, Jonathan Cheuk Hung Chan
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Korean Diabetes Association 2025-03-01
Series:Diabetes & Metabolism Journal
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Online Access:http://e-dmj.org/upload/pdf/dmj-2024-0142.pdf
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author Jinxiao Lian
Ching So
Sarah Morag McGhee
Thuan-quoc Thach
Cindy Lo Kuen Lam
Colman Siu Cheung Fung
Alfred Siu Kei Kwong
Jonathan Cheuk Hung Chan
author_facet Jinxiao Lian
Ching So
Sarah Morag McGhee
Thuan-quoc Thach
Cindy Lo Kuen Lam
Colman Siu Cheung Fung
Alfred Siu Kei Kwong
Jonathan Cheuk Hung Chan
author_sort Jinxiao Lian
collection DOAJ
description Background The optimal screening interval for diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains controversial. This study aimed to develop a risk algorithm to predict the individual risk of referable sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) in a mainly Chinese population and to provide evidence for risk-based screening intervals. Methods The retrospective cohort data from 117,418 subjects who received systematic DR screening in Hong Kong between 2010 and 2016 were included to develop and validate the risk algorithm using a parametric survival model. The risk algorithm can be used to predict the individual risk of STDR within a specific time interval, or the time to reach a specific risk margin and thus to allocate a screening interval. The calibration performance was assessed by comparing the cumulative STDR events versus predicted risk over 2 years, and discrimination by using receiver operative characteristics (ROC) curve. Results Duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, presence of chronic kidney disease, diabetes medication, and age were included in the risk algorithm. The validation of prediction performance showed that there was no significant difference between predicted and observed STDR risks in males (5.6% vs. 5.1%, P=0.724) or females (4.8% vs. 4.6%, P=0.099). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.81) for males and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.83) for females. Conclusion The risk algorithm has good prediction performance for referable STDR. Using a risk-based screening interval allows us to allocate screening visits disproportionally more to those at higher risk, while reducing the frequency of screening of lower risk people.
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spelling doaj-art-8f88df1fa49247acb2e04598b66569d42025-08-20T03:03:08ZengKorean Diabetes AssociationDiabetes & Metabolism Journal2233-60792233-60872025-03-0149228629710.4093/dmj.2024.01422889To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort StudyJinxiao Lian0Ching So1Sarah Morag McGhee2Thuan-quoc Thach3Cindy Lo Kuen Lam4Colman Siu Cheung Fung5Alfred Siu Kei Kwong6Jonathan Cheuk Hung Chan7 School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong School of Optometry, The Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Hong Kong School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Department of Family Medicine and Primary Care, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong Department of Family Medicine and Primary Healthcare, Hong Kong West Cluster, Hospital Authority, Hong Kong Department of Ophthalmology, The University of Hong Kong, Hong KongBackground The optimal screening interval for diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains controversial. This study aimed to develop a risk algorithm to predict the individual risk of referable sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) in a mainly Chinese population and to provide evidence for risk-based screening intervals. Methods The retrospective cohort data from 117,418 subjects who received systematic DR screening in Hong Kong between 2010 and 2016 were included to develop and validate the risk algorithm using a parametric survival model. The risk algorithm can be used to predict the individual risk of STDR within a specific time interval, or the time to reach a specific risk margin and thus to allocate a screening interval. The calibration performance was assessed by comparing the cumulative STDR events versus predicted risk over 2 years, and discrimination by using receiver operative characteristics (ROC) curve. Results Duration of diabetes, glycosylated hemoglobin, systolic blood pressure, presence of chronic kidney disease, diabetes medication, and age were included in the risk algorithm. The validation of prediction performance showed that there was no significant difference between predicted and observed STDR risks in males (5.6% vs. 5.1%, P=0.724) or females (4.8% vs. 4.6%, P=0.099). The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.78 to 0.81) for males and 0.81 (95% CI, 0.79 to 0.83) for females. Conclusion The risk algorithm has good prediction performance for referable STDR. Using a risk-based screening interval allows us to allocate screening visits disproportionally more to those at higher risk, while reducing the frequency of screening of lower risk people.http://e-dmj.org/upload/pdf/dmj-2024-0142.pdfcohort studiesdiabetic retinopathyprognosistime-to-treatmentvision screening
spellingShingle Jinxiao Lian
Ching So
Sarah Morag McGhee
Thuan-quoc Thach
Cindy Lo Kuen Lam
Colman Siu Cheung Fung
Alfred Siu Kei Kwong
Jonathan Cheuk Hung Chan
To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study
Diabetes & Metabolism Journal
cohort studies
diabetic retinopathy
prognosis
time-to-treatment
vision screening
title To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study
title_full To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study
title_fullStr To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study
title_full_unstemmed To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study
title_short To Determine the Risk-Based Screening Interval for Diabetic Retinopathy: Development and Validation of Risk Algorithm from a Retrospective Cohort Study
title_sort to determine the risk based screening interval for diabetic retinopathy development and validation of risk algorithm from a retrospective cohort study
topic cohort studies
diabetic retinopathy
prognosis
time-to-treatment
vision screening
url http://e-dmj.org/upload/pdf/dmj-2024-0142.pdf
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