A study from a Wenzhou eye hospital identifies three distinct profiles among Chinese adults with diabetic retinopathy, highlighting opportunities for personalised treatment and improved outcomes across different socio-economic groups.
A new study from a tertiary eye hospital in Wenzhou, China, suggests that people with diabetic retinopathy can be grouped into three distinct profiles based on how they manage their condition, how confident they feel about doing so and the coping strategies they use. The findings add weight to broader evidence that diabetic retinopathy is a major and growing public health problem in China, where reviews and national surveys have found substantial rates of disease among people with diabetes and marked regional differences in burden.
The research team studied 273 adults with diabetic retinopathy seen between March and August 2025 and used k-means clustering to sort patients by self-management, self-efficacy and coping style. On that basis, they identified a “distressed dependent” group, a “proactive pioneering” group and a “balanced transitional” group. The largest share of patients fell into the balanced transitional category, while the proactive pioneering group showed the strongest self-management and coping scores and the distressed dependent group performed worst.
The profiles were not just behavioural labels. They also lined up with clear differences in education, income, employment, place of residence, diabetes treatment and glycaemic control. Patients in the distressed dependent group were more often rural, less educated, unemployed and had poorer glucose control, while the proactive pioneering group tended to be urban, better educated and better off financially. Vision-related quality of life, measured with the NEI VFQ-25, was highest in the proactive pioneering group and lowest in the distressed dependent group.
That pattern fits with earlier Chinese research showing that diabetic retinopathy is closely linked to longer diabetes duration, hyperglycaemia and rural residence. A review published in 2023 said China accounts for about one-third of the world’s diabetes population and highlighted large geographic differences in screening and management. Other studies have reported diabetic retinopathy prevalence rates of 18.45 per cent among people with diabetes in one meta-analysis, 23 per cent in another, and 34.08 per cent in a large multi-province survey, with sight-threatening disease also a significant concern.
The study’s authors argue that this kind of profiling could help clinicians move away from one-size-fits-all counselling and towards more tailored support. Their proposal is to focus intensive education and psychological support on the distressed dependent group, reinforce motivation and maintenance in the proactive pioneering group and help the balanced transitional group build stable routines. As diabetic retinopathy treatment remains closely tied to long-term glucose control and regular screening, the researchers say recognising these differences may improve both adherence and outcomes.
Disclaimer: This content is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical judgment, advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
