Mapping the methodological framework of diabetic retinopathy interventional trials: a scoping review on trial design, execution, and reporting practices
4 affiliations
- 1College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , ,
- 2School of Environment and Energy, Beijing University of Civil Engineering and Architecture , ,
- 3The Affiliated Hospital to Changchun University of Chinese Medicine, Changchun University of Chinese Medicine , ,
- 4Changchun Disabled Persons Rehabilitation Center , ,
Abstract
Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a prevalent and sight-threatening ocular complication of diabetes, and one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness among the working-age population worldwide. Driven by a growing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying DR, treatment strategies have evolved from a sole focus on glycemic control to comprehensive, multi-targeted, and multimodal therapies. This study systematically summarizes the characteristics of current clinical trials focused on DR treatment and evaluates the employed research methodologies. The aim of this review is to explore methodological trends in specific domains, with the hope that such insights may inform future efforts to optimize trial design and improve trial quality.
Methods: This study followed the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) were retrieved. In addition, clinical trials indexed in PubMed from July 23, 2016 to July 23, 2026 were retrieved. Data from the included studies were extracted and presented in tabular form.
Results: Clinical research targeting DR has expanded rapidly, reflecting a shift toward diverse interventions like anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF) drugs, laser treatments, and combined therapies. However, several methodological limitations were noted in the included studies, including the failure to specify diabetes type in over half of the cases, a predominance of small-sample trials, inconsistent reporting of intervention duration, and limited implementation of blinding due to practical constraints in ophthalmic interventions.
Conclusion: This review represents the first comprehensive assessment of current DR clinical research, exposing key design weaknesses in existing trials. Future meta-analyses and systematic evaluations, informed by the methodological gaps identified in this review, are urgently needed to generate robust evidence that can guide optimal treatment strategies.
Related
- A non-destructive methodological framework for modernizing legacy clinical reporting systems for AI-driven pharmacoinformatics: a SAS case study
- Reporting of research priorities in migraine clinical practice guidelines still need improvement—A methodological analysis
- Methodological lineages of concept analysis and mapping of reporting elements in nursing and health-related disciplines: A scoping review protocol
- Methodological drivers, reporting completeness, and transferability in HPV vaccination economic evaluations: A scoping review
- Methodological Adherence, Reporting Completeness, and Risk of Bias in AI-Assisted Systematic Reviews: A Matched Meta-Research Study
BibTeX
@article{wang2026mapping,
title = {{Mapping the methodological framework of diabetic retinopathy interventional trials: a scoping review on trial design, execution, and reporting practices}},
author = {Zixuan Wang and Xuwei Liu and Ming Yang and Guanchi Yan and Xuechun Fan and Jing Yu and Jinyue Zhao and Yingjing Shi and Xi Chen},
journal = {Frontiers in endocrinology},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.3389/fendo.2026.1961622},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690659},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Mapping the methodological framework of diabetic retinopathy interventional trials: a scoping review on trial design, execution, and reporting practices
AU - Zixuan Wang
AU - Xuwei Liu
AU - Ming Yang
AU - Guanchi Yan
AU - Xuechun Fan
AU - Jing Yu
AU - Jinyue Zhao
AU - Yingjing Shi
AU - Xi Chen
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/09
JO - Frontiers in endocrinology
DO - 10.3389/fendo.2026.1961622
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/PMC/PMC13690659
AB - Background: Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) is a prevalent and sight-threatening ocular complication of diabetes, and one of the leading causes of vision loss and blindness among the working-age population worldwide. Driven by a growing understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms underlying DR, treatment strategies have evolved from a sole focus on glycemic control to comprehensive, multi-targeted, and multimodal therapies. This study systematically summarizes the characteristics of current clinical trials focused on DR treatment and evaluates the employed research methodologies. The aim of this review is to explore methodological trends in specific domains, with the hope that such insights may inform future efforts to optimize trial design and improve trial quality. Methods: This study followed the PRISMA-ScR reporting guidelines. Clinical trials registered on ClinicalTrials.gov and the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (ChiCTR) were retrieved. In addition, clinical trials indexed in PubMed from July 23, 2016 to July 23, 2026 were retrieved. Data from the included studies were extracted and presented in tabular form. Results: Clinical research targeting DR has expanded rapidly, reflecting a shift toward diverse interventions like anti-Vascular endothelial growth factor(anti-VEGF) drugs, laser treatments, and combined therapies. However, several methodological limitations were noted in the included studies, including the failure to specify diabetes type in over half of the cases, a predominance of small-sample trials, inconsistent reporting of intervention duration, and limited implementation of blinding due to practical constraints in ophthalmic interventions. Conclusion: This review represents the first comprehensive assessment of current DR clinical research, exposing key design weaknesses in existing trials. Future meta-analyses and systematic evaluations, informed by the methodological gaps identified in this review, are urgently needed to generate robust evidence that can guide optimal treatment strategies.
SN - 1664-2392
ER -