Factors Associated with Screening for Diabetic Retinopathy in Elderly Diabetic Patients: The Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to analyze factors related to screening for diabetic retinopathy in elderly diabetic patients.METHODS: This study included 682 elderly diabetic patients aged older than 65 years who answered the question “Have you undergone an eye examination in the last year?” from the Sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2013–2015. Data were analyzed using multiple logistic regression to identify the relationship between screening for diabetic retinopathy in elderly diabetic patients and related factors.RESULTS: Among the study population, 493 patients (73.3%) did not undergo eye examinations in the last year. Age ≥80 years (odds ratio [OR], 2.250; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.014–4.992), current smoking (OR, 2.006; 95% CI, 1.018–3.953), poor subjective health status (OR, 0.457; 95% CI, 0.242–0.863), history of stroke (OR, 0.479; 95% CI, 0.246–0.933), and history of hypertension (OR, 1.674; 95% CI, 1.114–2.516) were significantly associated with not undergoing eye examinations for diabetic retinopathy in elderly diabetic patients aged older than 65 years.CONCLUSION: In elderly diabetic patients aged older than 65 years living in Korea, those aged older than 80 years, who are current smokers, and with a history of hypertension showed low rates of undergoing eye examinations for diabetic retinopathy, while those with poor subjective health status and a history of stroke had high rates of undergoing eye examinations.