ABSTRACT
ABSTRACT Objective: To assess the impact of visual impairment on the quality of life (QOL) of patients with diabetic retinopathy attending the Retina Eye Clinic at the University Hospital of the West Indies (UHWI). Method: A questionnaire modelled from the National Eye Institute Visual Function Questionnaire (NEIVFQ-25) was administered to 150 patients with diabetic retinopathy. The questions ranged from concern with their vision, health and social problems to functional ability. The associations between an overall QOL score and level of visual impairment among other variables were assessed using chi-square test and the t test in the SPSS software. Results: The mean age was 56 ± 10 years. Sixty-six percent were females. Type 2 diabetes was more common in 63% and 79% of the females and males, respectively. There were significant negative associations between QOL and increased duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) (p = 0.016), reduced vision (left eye; p < 0.049), reduced monthly income (p = 0.008), lack of compliance with exercise (p = 0.021), and a special diet (p = 0.01). There were no significant relationships between QOL and age (p = 0.495), marital status (p = 0.318) and DM type (p = 0.651). Conclusion: Poorer QOL was associated with decreased left eye visual acuity, lower income and lack of compliance with exercise and special diet among patients with diabetic retinopathy at UHWI.
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: In June 2009, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared a global influenza pandemic (1). During the throes of the epidemic, the Caribbean region recorded 22 deaths and 350 hospitalizations. Jamaica reported most of the deaths in the region - 7, followed by Trinidad and Tobago -5 and Barbados - 3; the remaining 7 deaths occurred in other Caribbean countries (2). In June, Jamaica reported its first case (3) and some three months later, in September 2009, The University of the West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus experienced an outbreak of the 2009 H1N1 virus infection. As one of the three main Campuses of the leading tertiary institution in the English-speaking Caribbean (others being in Trinidad and Tobago and Barbados in addition to an 'Open Campus'which serves the non-Campus territories), the UWI Mona Campus serves some 15 000 students. These students originate mainly from the Caribbean; North American and African students also comprise the student population. The University Health Centre provides primary care services to a community of students, staff (3000) and their dependents, retirees, visiting staff and students.
Antecedentes: En junio de 2009, la Organización Mundial de la Salud (OMS) declaró una pandemia mundial de gripe (1). Durante la agonía de la epidemia, la región del Caribe registró 22 muertes y 350 hospitalizaciones. Jamaica reportó la mayor parte de las muertes en la región, 7, seguida de 5 en Trinidad y Tobago y 3 en Barbados; las restantes 7 muertes ocurrieron en otros países del Caribe (2). En junio, Jamaica reportó su primer caso (3) y unos tres meses más tarde, en septiembre de 2009, la Universidad de West Indies (UWI) Mona Campus experimentó un brote del virus H1N1 de 2009. Como uno de los tres campus principales de la principal institución terciaria en el Caribe de habla inglesa (los otros dos en Trinidad y Tobago por un lado, y Barbados por otro, además de un 'Campus abierto', que sirve a los territorios sin campus), el campus de Mona, en UWI, presta servicio a unos 15000 estudiantes. Estos proceden principalmente de la región del Caribe; Estudiantes norteamericanos y africanos comprenden también la población estudiantil. El Centro de Salud de la Universidad brinda servicios de atención primaria a la comunidad de estudiantes residentes, al personal (3000) y sus dependientes, jubilados, así como al personal y los estudiantes de visita.