Association Between Metabolic Syndrome and Diabetic Macular Edema Among Patients at University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is the most common cause of vision loss among individuals with diabetes mellitus and its pathogenesis is increasingly linked to the broader metabolic syndrome cluster of conditions. This study investigates the association between metabolic syndrome components and the presence and severity of DME among diabetic patients attending the endocrinology clinic at the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Cross River State, South South Nigeria. A cross-sectional analytical design will be employed, recruiting 280 type 2 diabetic patients over a 12-month period. Macular edema will be assessed using spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT) and graded using the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study (ETDRS) criteria. Metabolic syndrome will be defined using the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) criteria, incorporating waist circumference, fasting blood glucose, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure. Logistic regression and Spearman correlation will examine associations between metabolic syndrome severity and OCT-based DME parameters. The study anticipates a significant independent association between central obesity, hypertriglyceridemia, and DME severity. Findings will contribute to the clinical management of DME by identifying high-risk diabetic profiles that warrant more intensive ocular monitoring and early intervention. Results will be submitted to the hospital's endocrinology and ophthalmology departments to strengthen interdisciplinary care. Keywords: diabetic macular edema, metabolic syndrome, optical coherence tomography, Calabar, diabetes