burden and spectrum of vitreo-retinal diseases among ophthalmic outpatients in a resource-deficient tertiary eye care setting in south-eastern Nigeria

ABSTRACT

This study was designed to determine the rate and pattern of vitreo-retinal diseases at a tertiary eye care center in South-eastern Nigeria. The outpatient register at the Eye clinic of the University of Nigeria Teaching Hospital, Enugu, was retrospectively examined to identify all new patients registered between January 2004 and December 2008. A chart review of subjects with vitreo-retinal disease was conducted to record relevant demographic and clinical data including the needs for vitreo-retinal care. Descriptive and analytical statistics were performed. A P-value <0.001 [one degree of the needs of freedom] was considered statistically significant. Of the 8.239 new patients reported during the period, 326 subjects [males-59.3%; females- 40.7%; sex ratio= 1.11] aged 49.3 +/- 16.8 years [range 3-82 years] had vitreo-retinal disease. The rate of vitreo-retinal disease was 3.9%. The rate was higher in subjects above 40 years old [P<0.001], but did not differ between sexes [P=0.469]. Diabetic retinopathy [24.9%], hypertensive retinopathy [13.3%], and age-related macular degeneration [10.7%] were the leading vitreo-retinal diseases. Blindness from vitreo-retinal disease was bilateral in 6.1% of subjects and unilateral in 17.5% of subjects. The common co-morbidities were ocular conditions such as refractive error [19.8%], cataract [14.2%], and glaucoma [10.4%]; and systemic conditions such as diabetes mellitus [14.6%] and hypertension [13.2%]. The rate of vitreo-retinal diseases among new ophthalmic outpatients at UNTH, Enugu, is 3.9%. Retinal vascular disorders and age-related maculopathy are the leading retinal diseases. At UNTH, resource needs for vitreo-retinal care are urgent including retinal photography/angiography, laser photocoagulation, intra-vitreal pharmacotherapy, and vitreo-retinal surgery