VEGFA and diabetic retinopathy: Among males, the DN group subjects showed higher BP (P < 0.05), longer course of diabetes (P < 0.001), higher frequency of diabetic retinopathy (P < 0.05), worse renal dysfunction based on higher BUN levels (P < 0.05), higher creatinine levels (P < 0.001), lower eGFR values (P < 0.01), and higher UACR (P < 0.001), and higher serum VEGF levels (P < 0.001) compared with the non-DN subjects.