Bidirectional relationship of diabetic retinopathy with anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis - Summary - MDSpire

Bidirectional relationship of diabetic retinopathy with anxiety and depression: a meta-analysis

  • By

  • Seng Fan

  • Ziyue Gai

  • Hui Ma

  • Ziye Wen

  • Chunlei Ma

  • Dongying Fan

  • Songying Qian

  • Zengxin Li

  • April 13, 2026

  • 0 min

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Objective:

To investigate the bidirectional relationship between diabetic retinopathy (DR) and anxiety and depression, defined as the influence of each condition on the other.

Key Findings:
  • There is a significant positive correlation between DR and depression (OR = 1.58; 95%CI:1.24-2.02; p<0.001), indicating that patients with DR are more likely to experience depression.
  • Depression is also significantly correlated with DR (OR = 2.13; 95%CI:1.53-2.98; p<0.001), suggesting that depression may contribute to the severity of DR.
  • A significant positive correlation exists between DR and anxiety (OR = 2.23; 95%CI:1.07-4.68; p=0.033), highlighting the psychological burden of DR.
Interpretation:

The findings suggest a bidirectional relationship between diabetic retinopathy and both anxiety and depression, indicating that each condition may exacerbate the other.

Limitations:
  • Potential publication bias may skew results.
  • Variability in study designs and populations included could affect the generalizability of findings.
  • The reliance on observational studies limits the ability to draw causal conclusions.
Conclusion:

The study underscores the importance of integrating personalized psychological care into the treatment of diabetic retinopathy to enhance patient outcomes.

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