ObjectiveIn order to provide guidance for early interference of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM), we surveyed the prevalence and analysis the related factors of DR in Shanghai Songnan community. MethodsBased on an established resident health database, an epidemiology study was performed on the residents with DM in Shanghai Songnan community.1177 patients completed questionnaire survey, and received physical examination and laboratory tests. The diagnosis and grading of DR were established based on the ocular fundus images acquired by digital non-mydriasis fundus camera. Patients with incomplete questionnaires were excluded. ResultsThere were 1120 DM patients with valid questionnaires. DR was found in 264 (23.57%) patients. The prevalence of mild, moderate, severe non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR was 17.05%, 5.09%, 1.16% and 0.27% respectively. There was significant differences in age, disease course, systolic blood pressure, insulin usage between the DR group and NDR group(t=-2.647, 2.688, 2.204, 2.291;χ2=12.527;P=0.008, 0.007, 0.028, 0.022, 0.000). There was significant differences in fasting blood-glucose and insulin usage between the mild, the moderate and the severe DR group(t=21.964, χ2=14.996;P=0.000, 0.001). Stepwise logistic analysis identified that age, DM course, and insulin usage were the related factors of DR (OR=0.769, 1.239, 1.100, 1.071, 1.682;P=0.001, 0.043, 0.176, 0.097, 0.005). ConclusionThe age, DM course, and insulin usage were the related factors of DR. The high prevalence of DR indicated the importance of the management of diabetic patients.