A Study on the Prevalence of Retinopathy among Diabetic Patients in Tertiary Level Hospital of Bangladesh

Nursing

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is one of the world’s fastest growing chronic diseases and a leading cause of acquired vision loss. According to the World Health Organization, it is estimated that the total number of people with diabetes will double from 171 million in 2000 to 366 million by 2030. The prevalence of Diabetes Mellitus in Bangladesh has increased. People with diabetes are at risk for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetes Retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss in middle-aged and elderly people globally. Early detection and prompt treatment allow prevention of diabetes-related visual impairment. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major cause of avoidable blindness worldwide. People with Diabetic Retinopathy are 25 times more likely to become blind than non-diabetics. It has been estimated that One in four patients with Diadetes in Bangladesh could lose their eye –sight due to Diabetic retinopathy, The present study was carried out to assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in a Institution-based nationally-representative sample of adults with self-reported diabetes mellitus from Bangladesh. A cross-sectional Institution-based national study among 1002 adults was conducted at National Institute of Ophthalmology and Hospital, Agargaon, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Data was collected from one specialized tertiary level Hospital. The current study recruited 1002 patients those were referred from various hospitals, diabetes clinics and referral clinics to study current scenario of diabetic retinopathy, using purposive random sampling technique. This study included both type 1 and type 2 diabetic patients. A self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. Eligible patients were explained the study purpose and invited to attend in interview. A diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy was made only where a participant had a minimum of one microaneurysm in any field, as well as exhibiting hemorrhages (dot, blot, or flame shaped), and maculopathy (with or without clinically significant oedema). Crude prevalence of diabetes retinopathy was 47.00% (total number of respondents were n = 1002, out of which retinopathy found in 471 respondents), of which all were patients with ‘known’ diabetes. It seems that good screening and prompt referral of diabetic patients for full-dilated ocular examinations, appropriate treatment and regular follow up examinations may significantly reduce blindness due to diabetic retinopathy.

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