title: Screening programme for microvascular complications and hypertension in a community diabetic population.
abstract: The role of a community-based screening programme for microvascular complications of diabetes and hypertension was evaluated in the semi-rural town of Trowbridge (population 31,000). Of 405 diabetic patients identified (prevalence 1.31%), 358 (88%) attended for screening, 94 (26%) of whom were under hospital review for diabetes. In only 136 patients (38%) were all aspects of diabetes care found to be satisfactory. The remaining 222 patients included 162 patients with poor metabolic control (HbA1 greater than or equal to 12%), 118 who were hypertensive at screening, 13 with previously undiagnosed diabetic nephropathy, and 29 with undiagnosed potentially sight-threatening retinopathy. Overall standards of diabetes care in this community population appear inadequate, and might be improved by introduction of a simple screening programme for diabetic complications.
authors.affiliation: Royal United Hospital, Bath, UK.
authors.forename: E R
authors.initials: ER
authors.lastname: Higgs
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kelleher
authors.forename: H C
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Simpson
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Reckless
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure; D003153:Community Health Services; D003710:Demography; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003925:Diabetic Angiopathies / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004739:England; D005260:Female; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence
chemical_list: D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin