C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients

Background and objectiveDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, a single lipid or inflammatory parameter cannot accurately predict the prognosis of DR independently, because it is prone to be affected by various confounding factors. This stud...

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Main Authors: Yuan Zhang, Guanhua Chen, Weimin Wang, Yali Jing
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-03-01
Series:Frontiers in Nutrition
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537707/full
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author Yuan Zhang
Yuan Zhang
Guanhua Chen
Guanhua Chen
Weimin Wang
Weimin Wang
Yali Jing
Yali Jing
author_facet Yuan Zhang
Yuan Zhang
Guanhua Chen
Guanhua Chen
Weimin Wang
Weimin Wang
Yali Jing
Yali Jing
author_sort Yuan Zhang
collection DOAJ
description Background and objectiveDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, a single lipid or inflammatory parameter cannot accurately predict the prognosis of DR independently, because it is prone to be affected by various confounding factors. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the inflammation-lipid indicator C-reactive protein (CRP)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and DR occurrence in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThis hospital-based retrospective study included 784 T2DM patients. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed by nonmydriatic fundus photography and/or fundus examination apparatus. T2DM patients were divided into non-DR and DR groups. Demographics variables, clinical history and serum biochemical indicators of the subjects were collected. We also calculated the CRP/HDL-C ratio. The association between the CRP/HDL-C and DR was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 784 participants, 612 without DR and 172 with DR, were included in the final sample analysis. Compared with non-DR participants, the DR diagnostic group had significantly higher CRP/HDL-C (4.03 ± 1.67 vs. 2.66 ± 0.97; p < 0.001). Then, the patients were grouped based on the quartiles of CRP/HDL-C, there was a gradual increase in the prevalence of DR was noted in T2DM patients along with the increased quartile of the CRP/HDL-C ratio (Q1: 7.65%; Q2: 15.31%; Q3: 19.90%; Q4: 44.90%; p = 0.028). After adjustment for the impact of various covariates, the odds ratio (OR) of the third and fourth vs. the first quartile of CRP/HDL-C were 2.905 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.372 ~ 6.152, p = 0.005) and 9.938 (95% CI: 4.987 ~ 19.804, p < 0.001), respectively. Further, multivariate logistic regression model showed that the CRP/HDL-C ratio (OR 3.176, 95% CI: 1.280 ~ 7.877, p = 0.013) was identified as risk factor for DR. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the predictive value of CRP/HDL-C for the risk of DR occurrence was 0.752 (95% CI: 0.711 ~ 0.794).ConclusionThe ratio of C-reactive protein (CRP) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with DR in patients with T2DM, and CRP/HDL-C may be an effective marker to help identify the risk of DR in patients with T2DM.
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spelling doaj-art-e5425e6110304f83ad2e0b6bbf9b1b8d2025-08-20T02:02:52ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Nutrition2296-861X2025-03-011210.3389/fnut.2025.15377071537707C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patientsYuan Zhang0Yuan Zhang1Guanhua Chen2Guanhua Chen3Weimin Wang4Weimin Wang5Yali Jing6Yali Jing7Department of Endocrinology, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaBranch of National Clinical Research Centre for Metabolic Diseases, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaBranch of National Clinical Research Centre for Metabolic Diseases, Nanjing, ChinaBranch of National Clinical Research Centre for Metabolic Diseases, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital, Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Nanjing University, Nanjing, ChinaDepartment of Endocrinology, Endocrine and Metabolic Disease Medical Center, Nanjing Drum Tower Hospital Clinical College of Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, ChinaBranch of National Clinical Research Centre for Metabolic Diseases, Nanjing, ChinaBackground and objectiveDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is associated with abnormal lipid metabolism and inflammation. However, a single lipid or inflammatory parameter cannot accurately predict the prognosis of DR independently, because it is prone to be affected by various confounding factors. This study aimed to explore the relationship between the inflammation-lipid indicator C-reactive protein (CRP)/high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and DR occurrence in subjects with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).MethodsThis hospital-based retrospective study included 784 T2DM patients. Diabetic retinopathy was diagnosed by nonmydriatic fundus photography and/or fundus examination apparatus. T2DM patients were divided into non-DR and DR groups. Demographics variables, clinical history and serum biochemical indicators of the subjects were collected. We also calculated the CRP/HDL-C ratio. The association between the CRP/HDL-C and DR was assessed using multivariate logistic regression analyses.ResultsA total of 784 participants, 612 without DR and 172 with DR, were included in the final sample analysis. Compared with non-DR participants, the DR diagnostic group had significantly higher CRP/HDL-C (4.03 ± 1.67 vs. 2.66 ± 0.97; p < 0.001). Then, the patients were grouped based on the quartiles of CRP/HDL-C, there was a gradual increase in the prevalence of DR was noted in T2DM patients along with the increased quartile of the CRP/HDL-C ratio (Q1: 7.65%; Q2: 15.31%; Q3: 19.90%; Q4: 44.90%; p = 0.028). After adjustment for the impact of various covariates, the odds ratio (OR) of the third and fourth vs. the first quartile of CRP/HDL-C were 2.905 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.372 ~ 6.152, p = 0.005) and 9.938 (95% CI: 4.987 ~ 19.804, p < 0.001), respectively. Further, multivariate logistic regression model showed that the CRP/HDL-C ratio (OR 3.176, 95% CI: 1.280 ~ 7.877, p = 0.013) was identified as risk factor for DR. Moreover, the area under the curve (AUC) to evaluate the predictive value of CRP/HDL-C for the risk of DR occurrence was 0.752 (95% CI: 0.711 ~ 0.794).ConclusionThe ratio of C-reactive protein (CRP) to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) is associated with DR in patients with T2DM, and CRP/HDL-C may be an effective marker to help identify the risk of DR in patients with T2DM.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537707/fulldiabetic retinopathy (DR)the CRP to HDL-C ratiobiomarkertype 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)dyslipidemiainflammation
spellingShingle Yuan Zhang
Yuan Zhang
Guanhua Chen
Guanhua Chen
Weimin Wang
Weimin Wang
Yali Jing
Yali Jing
C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
Frontiers in Nutrition
diabetic retinopathy (DR)
the CRP to HDL-C ratio
biomarker
type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
dyslipidemia
inflammation
title C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
title_full C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
title_fullStr C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
title_full_unstemmed C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
title_short C-reactive protein to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio: an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
title_sort c reactive protein to high density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio an independent risk factor for diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetes patients
topic diabetic retinopathy (DR)
the CRP to HDL-C ratio
biomarker
type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM)
dyslipidemia
inflammation
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fnut.2025.1537707/full
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