PREVENTION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN TYPE 2 DIABETIC PATIENTS NUNAH HOSPITAL BANGKOK

Abstract

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

Diabetic retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes and it is important because it can lead to blindness if left untreated. According to reports, the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy is 15.57-42.6 ^{1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9} and blindness is 2% ^{10, 11.}    Therefore, this study at Nun-Ah hospital is useful to establish the preventive measures for diabetic retinopathy.

OBJECTIVE

To Study the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and to Study factors related to diabetic retinopathy in type 2 diabetic patients

METHODS

A cross-sectional study collected data from type 2 diabetic patients who had retinal examinations from  January 1 to June 31, 2016  at NunAh Hospital, Bangkok. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics of percentage, mean and statistical analysis. Pearson's Chi-Square was statistically significant at p <0.05.

RESULTS

                Of the total 283 patients with retinopathy examined 62.9% were female, the mean age was 64.5 years, and the average duration of diabetes was 8.06 years. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 27.2% split between mild NPDR of 22.9% and PDR of 4.2%.  Factors associated diabetic retinopathy were age of more than 60 years, unemployment, duration of diabetes more than 10 years, body mass indexes more than 23, and creatinine levels greater than 1.5.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Prevention of diabetic retinopathy can be done by educating patients, encouraging patients to be self-aware and more proactive in the status of their own health care, and most importantly diabetic patients should have a retinal screening every year. Especially at risk are those whose age is more than 60 years old, unemployed, with diabetic duration > 10 years, BMI > 23,  and creatinine levels greater than 1.5  for early detection.