Modifiable lifestyle, mental health status and diabetic retinopathy in U.S. adults aged 18–64 years with diabetes: a population-based cross-sectional study from NHANES 1999–2018

Abstract

Background: The relationship between integrated lifestyles, mental status and their impact on overall well-being has attracted considerable attention. This study aimed to evaluate the association between lifestyle factors, depression and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in adults aged 18–64 years. Methods: A cohort of 3482 participants diagnosed with diabetes was drawn from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) spanning the years 1999–2018. DR was defined based on self-reported diabetic retinopathy diagnoses by professional physicians, relying on Diabetes Interview Questionnaires. Subgroup analysis was employed to assess lifestyle and psychological factors between participants with DR and those without, both overall and stratified by diabetic duration. Continuous variables were analyzed using the student’s t test, while weighted Rao-Scott χ2 test were employed for categorical variables to compare characteristics among the groups. Results: Of the 3482 participants, 767 were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy, yielding a weighted DR prevalence of 20.8%. Patients with DR exhibited a higher prevalence of heavy drinking, depression, sleep deprivation, and insufficient physical activity compared to those without DR. Furthermore, multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that sleeping less than 5 h (OR = 3.18, 95%CI: 2.04–4.95, p < 0.001) and depression (OR = 1.35, 95%CI:1.06–1.64, p = 0.025) were associated with a higher risk of DR, while moderate drinking (OR = 0.49, 95%CI: 0.32–0.75, p = 0.001) and greater physical activity (OR = 0.64, 95%CI: 0.35–0.92, p = 0.044) were identified as protective factors. Conclusions: Adults aged 18–64 years with DR exhibited a higher prevalence of lifestyle-related risk factors and poorer mental health. These findings underscore the need for concerted efforts to promote healthy lifestyles and positive emotional well-being in this population.