Screening compliance and visual outcome in diabetes

• Published in: Acta Ophthalmologica Scandinavica
• Main Authors: Zoega, Gunnar Már, Gunnarsdóttir, Þóra, Björnsdóttir, Sigríður, Hreiðarsson, Ástradur B., Viggósson, Guðmundur, Stefánsson, Einar
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Wiley 2005
• Subjects: Iceland
• Online Access: http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0420.2005.00541.x; https://api.wiley.com/onlinelibrary/tdm/v1/articles/10.1111%2Fj.1600-0420.2005.00541.x; https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1111/j.1600-0420.2005.00541.x

Abstract. Purpose: To study the relationship between screening compliance and visual outcome in a screening programme for diabetic eye disease. Methods: A retrospective case control study. The screening compliance of all the diabetes patients ( n = 22) listed at the Icelandic National Registry for the Blind (visual acuity <0.3) was compared to a matched group of 44 non‐blind diabetes patients (visual acuity ≥0.3) who participated in the same screening programme for diabetic retinopathy. Glycaemic control (HbA1c), office blood pressure and cholesterol levels were assessed. Results: The study group had a significantly lower level of compliance with the screening programme (27% ± 38% [mean ± SD] versus 77% ± 26% [mean ± SD]; p < 0.0001). Macular oedema or proliferative diabetic retinopathy was found in 60% (13/22) of the study group when entering the screening programme, compared to 7% (3/44) in the control group. Blood pressure (except diastolic BP among type 1 diabetes mellitus), blood glucose and cholesterol levels were identical. The prevalence of blindness and low vision amongst diabetes patients in Iceland is about 0.5%. Conclusions: There was a significant relationship between screening compliance and visual outcome in diabetes patients in our screening programme.