Antonela Gverović Antunica1, Kajo Bućan2, Snježana Kaštelan3, Helena Kaštelan1, Mira Ivanković4, Maja Šikić5. 1. Department of Ophthalmology, General Hospital Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia. 2. University Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Split, Split, Croatia. 3. Department of Ophthalmology, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia. 4. Department of Neurology, General Hospital Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia. 5. Medical Centre Dubrovnik, Dubrovnik, Croatia.
Abstract
OBJECTIVE: Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness. We estimated the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among a diabetic population in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in the Republic of Croatia and searched for potential risk factors. METHODS: A prospective study was performed with 600 diabetic patients from different parts of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County who attended regular medical and ophthalmological check-ups at the General Hospital Dubrovnik from September 2014 to September 2015. Patients underwent a complete medical assessment by two ophthalmologists. Retinal examination included evaluation of the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Any retinopathy present was graded as mild non-proliferative retinopathy, moderate-severe non proliferative retinopathy or proliferative retinopathy. RESULTS: Retinopathy was present in 44.5% of the study sample. 20.7% had the mild form of diabetic retinopathy, 18.8% had the moderate-severe form, and 5.0% had proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The mean duration of diabetes was 12.94 years ± 6.85; 12.89 years ± 9.18 in men, 12.94 ± 6.54 in women. The mean BMI was 27.14 ± 2.98; for diabetics without diabetic retinopathy 26.19 ± 2.75; for those with the mild form 28.06 ± 3.01; for those with the moderate-severe form 28.49 ± 2.54; for those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy 28.79 ± 3.16. 168 (28%) patients were treated by laser and 22 (3.7%) by vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County is 44.5%. Regular screening to detect diabetic retinopathy is highly recommended as timely intervention can prevent most diabetic causes of blindness.
OBJECTIVE:Diabetic retinopathy is one of the leading causes of blindness. We estimated the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among a diabetic population in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County in the Republic of Croatia and searched for potential risk factors. METHODS: A prospective study was performed with 600 diabeticpatients from different parts of the Dubrovnik-Neretva County who attended regular medical and ophthalmological check-ups at the General Hospital Dubrovnik from September 2014 to September 2015. Patients underwent a complete medical assessment by two ophthalmologists. Retinal examination included evaluation of the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Any retinopathy present was graded as mild non-proliferative retinopathy, moderate-severe non proliferative retinopathy or proliferative retinopathy. RESULTS:Retinopathy was present in 44.5% of the study sample. 20.7% had the mild form of diabetic retinopathy, 18.8% had the moderate-severe form, and 5.0% had proliferative diabetic retinopathy. The mean duration of diabetes was 12.94 years ± 6.85; 12.89 years ± 9.18 in men, 12.94 ± 6.54 in women. The mean BMI was 27.14 ± 2.98; for diabetics without diabetic retinopathy 26.19 ± 2.75; for those with the mild form 28.06 ± 3.01; for those with the moderate-severe form 28.49 ± 2.54; for those with proliferative diabetic retinopathy 28.79 ± 3.16. 168 (28%) patients were treated by laser and 22 (3.7%) by vitrectomy. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in the Dubrovnik-Neretva County is 44.5%. Regular screening to detect diabetic retinopathy is highly recommended as timely intervention can prevent most diabetic causes of blindness.
Entities:
Keywords:
Dubrovnik-Neretva county; diabetic retinopathy; duration of diabetes; prevalence