Researchers have found in a new study published in Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice that prior psoriasis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is associated with a significantly higher risk of developing diabetic retinopathy (DR). The analysis included 85,691 T2DM patients, revealing that psoriasis increased the risk across multiple DR outcomes, including vision-threatening DR, non-proliferative DR (NPDR), mild and moderate NPDR, proliferative DR (PDR), and diabetic macular edema. Interestingly, severe NPDR did not show a statistically significant difference, indicating that the increased risk is more pronounced in earlier stages of retinal disease.
Psoriasis is a systemic inflammatory condition, and its chronic inflammatory state may exacerbate microvascular damage in the retina, making T2DM patients more susceptible to DR. Clinicians should be particularly vigilant in screening and monitoring retinal health in patients with both T2DM and psoriasis. Early detection and timely intervention can help prevent progression to severe vision impairment. The study emphasizes the need for integrated care approaches that consider coexisting inflammatory conditions when managing diabetic complications.
What this really means is that understanding comorbidities like psoriasis can help refine risk stratification in diabetes care. The findings support closer ophthalmologic surveillance for T2DM patients with psoriasis and may guide therapeutic decisions aimed at reducing systemic inflammation. Future research could further clarify underlying mechanisms linking psoriasis and DR risk and explore whether targeted anti-inflammatory treatments may mitigate these effects. This study reinforces the importance of holistic patient management and multidisciplinary collaboration in chronic disease care.
Keywords: psoriasis, type 2 diabetes mellitus, T2DM, diabetic retinopathy, vision-threatening DR, non-proliferative DR, proliferative DR, diabetic macular edema, systemic inflammation, Diabetes Res Clin Pr
Reference: Lee, H., Kim, S., Park, J., & Choi, Y. (2025). Association of psoriasis and the risk of diabetic retinopathy in type-2 diabetes mellitus patients. Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice, 194, 110698. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.diabres.2025.10926X
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