Survival Rates After Pars Plana Vitrectomy for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy

Purpose: To provide updated survival data for patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) undergoing pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) and identify associated prognostic factors. Methods: An aggregated electronic health records research network was used to identify patients with a diagnosis of PDR who underwent PPV between 2009 and 2019 and a control group of patients with PDR without a history of PPV. Groups were propensity score matched for age, sex, race, ethnicity, and HbA1c. Main outcomes included survival rates at 3, 5, and 10 years using the Kaplan-Meier life table method. Additional analyses were performed to assess if survival rates differed in patients with PDR by PPV indication (vitreous hemorrhage [VH] or tractional retinal detachment [TRD]). Results: A total of 8637 patients were included. The 3-, 5-, and 10-year survival rates in patients with PDR after PPV were 89.2%, 80.9%, and 52.8%, respectively. Survival rates in patients with PDR with a history of PPV vs without a history of PPV were lower at 3 (88.7% vs 89.9%; P = .03), 5 (80.2% vs 82.6%; P < .01), and 10 years (51.4% vs 55.8%; P < .01). Survival rates were similar between patients who underwent PPV for VH or TRD at 3 (90.4% vs 88.7%; P = .05), 5 (82.7% vs 81.0%; P = .10), and 10 years (53.0% vs 53.4%; P = .75). Conclusions: Despite major advances in diabetes care, the long-term survival rates in patients with PDR after PPV have remained stable the last 2 decades, emphasizing the need for multidisciplinary evaluation and prompt cardiovascular and renal optimization.