Diabetic retinopathy in a black population: the Barbados Eye Study.
OBJECTIVE
The distribution of diabetic retinopathy in black populations is largely unknown. The authors present retinopathy data from the predominately black participants of the Barbados Eye Study (BES).


METHODS
Prevalence study of 4631 participants based on a random sample of the Barbados population 40 to 84 years of age (84% participation).


METHODS
Diabetes was defined as self-reported history of physician-diagnosed diabetes or glycosylated hemoglobin greater than 10% (>2 standard deviations above the population mean of persons without a diabetes history). Retinopathy was assessed by independent gradings of 30 degrees color stereo fundus photographs of the disc and macula.


RESULTS
Diabetes was present in 19.4% of black (n = 4314), 15.2% of mixed (black and white; n = 184), and 7.5% of white/other (n = 133) self-reported racial groups. In the black/mixed population, regardless of diabetes status, the prevalence of retinopathy was 5.9%. In the 636 black and mixed participants with diabetes, the prevalence of retinopathy was 28.5%: 19.8% had minimum changes, 7.7% had moderate changes, and 0.9% had severe retinopathy. Clinically significant macular edema (CSME) was found in 8.6% of those with diabetes.


CONCLUSIONS
In the population of African origin, approximately 1 in 17 persons had retinopathy. Among those with diabetes, 28.5% had retinopathy and 8.6% had CSME. These results highlight the clinical and public health relevance of diabetic retinopathy in the black population.
Leske
M C
MC
Department of Preventive Medicine, University Medical Center at Stony Brook, New York 11794-8036, USA. cleske@uhmc.sunysb.edu
Wu
S Y
SY
Hyman
L
L
Li
X
X
Hennis
A
A
Connell
A M
AM
Schachat
A P
AP
D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001460:Barbados / Q000453:epidemiology; D044383:Black People; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005654:Fundus Oculi; D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010781:Photography; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution
D006442:Glycated Hemoglobin