Low prevalence of retinopathy among Greenland Inuit

• Published in: International Journal of Circumpolar Health
• Main Authors: Larsen, Trine Louise Jul, Jørgensen, Marit Eika, Pedersen, Michael Lynge, Lund-Andersen, Henrik, Valerius, Marianne, Juul, Ellen, Byberg, Stine
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2021
• Subjects: Diabetic Retinopathy/epidemiology; Ethnicity; Greenland/epidemiology; Humans; Inuits; Prevalence; Risk Factors; Circumpolar Health; Greenland; International Journal of Circumpolar Health; inuit; inuits
• Online Access: https://portal.findresearcher.sdu.dk/da/publications/fa9c9624-cbd3-43a0-ae95-4bff83d5fde3; https://doi.org/10.1080/22423982.2021.1938420; https://findresearcher.sdu.dk/ws/files/184489698/Low_prevalence_of_retinopathy_among_Greenland_Inuit.pdf

To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among persons with diabetes and prediabetes participating in the 2018 Population Health Survey in Greenland (B2018), a follow-up survey of three previous health surveys. Participants were invited to a diabetes complication screening. We assessed the prevalence of DR using Optos Daytona Ultra-wide field fundus camera and assessed differences in prevalence according to demographic and clinical characteristics using chi square test and a t-test and assessed DR based on ethnicity. The overall prevalence of DR was 2% (10/483). Among participants with HbA 1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) DR prevalence was 9% (9/91), compared with <1% (1/382) among participants with HbA 1c <48 mmol/mol (6.5%). All participants with DR lived in towns. The mean Inuit genetic admixture was lower among participants with DR. The prevalence of DR is low in Greenland and almost non-existent among persons with HbA 1c below the diabetes threshold.