Table 1 Summary of cohort studies on the role of OCTA in assessing diabetic choroidopathy

Fragiotta et al. 2023 [28]

6

SS-OCTA

-T1DM with mild NPDR: 22 cases (22 eyes)

-OCTA: CC FD %

-AO: CD, LDi, and HPi

-Fu: 4 y

- The CC FD exhibited a consistent increase over time (P < 0.01).

- The LDi and HPi were primarily impacted by choriocapillaris perfusion in the parafovea (P = 0.02).

- There was progressive deterioration of cone metrics over time due to worsening CC perfusion deficit.

Chen et al. 2023 [44]

6

SS-OCTA

-T2DM without DR or with mild NPDR (no DME): 903 cases

-CC FD%

-≥2 steps DR progression or development of DME

-Fu: 3 y

− 16.34% developed DR progression, and 6.54% developed DME.

- A higher average CC FD% was correlated with DR progression (OR, 3.41 per SD increase, 95% CI: 2.65–4.39, P < 0.001) and DME development (OR, 1.37 per SD increase, 95% CI: 1.06–1.77, P = 0.016) (especially in the inferior field) after adjusting for confounders.

Guo et al. 2023 [45]

6

SS-OCTA

-T2DM without DR or with mild NPDR (no DME): 946 cases (1879 eyes)

-Parapapillary (3-mm) CC FD%

-≥2 steps DR progression or development of DME

-Fu: 3 y

− 16.60% experienced DR progression and 6.12% developed DME.

- The DR progression was related to an elevated CC FD% (1.62, 1.40–1.88; P < 0.001).

- The DME occurrence was associated with a higher CC FD% (1.29, 1.03–1.61; P < 0.001).

Wang et al. 2022 [40]

4

SS-OCTA

-T2DM: 1222 patients (1222 eyes)

-CC FD%

-1-year incidence of RDR

- Each 1% increase in baseline CC FD% was associated with 1.69 times (RR 2.69; 95% CI 1.53 to 4.71; p = 0.001) higher risk for development of RDR after 1 year.