Minute-Scale Sleep-Onset HRV as a Candidate Risk-Stratification Biomarker for Diabetic Retinopathy: An Exploratory Pilot Study

Background

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common microvascular complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), yet DR screening coverage remains inadequate worldwide. Diabetic autonomic neuropathy typically precedes DR, and heart rate variability (HRV) provides a non-invasive autonomic measure; however, whether HRV can screen for DR remains unexplored.

Methods