Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients in Northwest Ethiopia-A cross sectional hospital based study.

BACKGROUND: Diabetic retinopathy is the most common microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus on eye and it is the leading cause of visual impairment among productive segment of the population. Globally, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is reported to be 27%. In Ethiopia, sufficient data is lacking on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy as well as information on its predisposing factors. The study was required to assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its predisposing factors in diabetic patients attending at a General Hospital in Ethiopia. METHODS: An institution based cross sectional study was employed on 331 diabetic patients recruited with a systematic random sampling technique. Data were collected through structured questionnaire, tracing patients' medical folder and ocular health examination. Data were analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science Version 20. Logistic regression methods of analysis were used to figure out predisposing factors of diabetic retinopathy. Adjusted odds ratio with 95% confidence interval was used to determine the strength of association. RESULT: A total of 331 diabetic patients completed the study with a response rate of 99.10%. The median duration of diabetes was 5 years. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 34.1% (95%Confidence Interval (CI): 28.7%-39.3%). Low family monthly income (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR) = 7.43, 95% CI: 2.44-22.57), longer duration of diabetes (AOR = 1.44, 95% CI: 1.30-1.58), poor glycemic control (AOR = 4.76, 95%CI: 2.26-10.00), and being on insulin treatment alone (AOR = 3.85, 95%CI: 1.16-12.74) were independently associated with diabetic retinopathy. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 34.1%, higher than national and global figures. Low family monthly income, longer duration of diabetes, poor glucose control and being on insulin treatment alone were important risk factors of diabetic retinopathy. Proper diabetes self management and early screening of diabetic retinopathy in all diabetic patients were recommended.

Sight-threatening Diabetic Retinopathy and Associated Risk Factors Among Adult Diabetes Patients at Debre Tabor General Hospital, Northwest Ethiopia.

BACKGROUND: People with diabetes have an increased risk of developing sight-threatening conditions. Sight threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) is an advanced microvascular of complication of diabetes on the eye. It remains one of the leading causes of preventable blindness among working age adults around the world. There is a paucity of evidence on the prevalence of STDR and its associated factors in Ethiopia, particularly in the study area. Therefore, the aim of our study was to determine the prevalence of STDR and its associated factors among adult diabetes patients at Debre Tabor General Hospital (DTGH), Northwest Ethiopia. MATERIALS AND METHODS: An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 306 diabetes patients at Debre Tabor General Hospital with systematic random sampling technique. Semi-structured questionnaire, document review and physical examination were applied to collect the data. Binary and multivariable logistic regression model were used to identify associated factors for STDR. RESULTS: The majority of the participants 163 (53.3%) were type 1 diabetes (T1DM) and the mean age of T1 and T2 DM participants was 34.5 (12.8) and 58.7 (10.7) years respectively. The prevalence of STDR was 15.3% (95%CI: 9.6%-20.9%) and 11.9% (6.6-17.5) in T1DM and T2DM, respectively. Low family monthly income (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=4.4, 95%CI: 1.05-18.40) among T2DM, longer duration of diabetes (AOR=10.9, 95%CI: 2.94-40.4) among T1DM (AOR=3.54, 95CI: 1.06-11.8) among T2DM and poor glycemic control (AOR=3.93, 95%CI: 1.06-14.5) and hypertension (AOR=5.86, 95%CI: 1.20-28.6) among T1DM and BMI (AOR=4.79, 95%CI: 1.35-17.00) among T2DM were significantly associated with STDR. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION: The prevalence of STDR was high. Low family monthly income, longer duration of diabetes, poor glycemic control, hypertension and obesity were positively associated with STDR. Early screening of STDR and improving diabetes self management in all diabetes patients were recommended.