[Population-based study of diabetic retinopathy in Wolfsburg].
BACKGROUND
Since November 1997 the complete documentation of an ophthalmological examination of diabetics has been annually subsidized by the Volkswagen Corporation Health Maintenance Organization (VW-HMO).


METHODS
The results of an annual ophthalmological examination were recorded in a standardised history sheet developed by the Initiative Group for Early Detection of Diabetic Eye Diseases. These data included visual acuity, intraocular pressure, lens status and a description of fundus abnormalities.


RESULTS
Within 26 months ophthalmological examinations of 2,801 patients were completed which represented 4.5% of all VW-HMO insured patients. On average, patients suffered from diabetes for 9.6 years (SD +/- 8.3), artificial intraocular lenses were present in 357 eyes (6.4%) and 1,216 eyes (12.0%) were diagnosed with cataract or posterior capsule opacification impairing visual acuity. Out of 263 patients younger than 40 years old, 18.8% had a mild or moderate and 3.3% a severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR). A proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was found in 2.2% of the younger patients. Of 2,228 patients aged 40 years and older, 11.9% had a mild or moderate and 2.6% a severe NPDR. In 0.9% of this group PDR was diagnosed.


CONCLUSIONS
An annual ophthalmological screening based on a survey sheet of the Initiative Group was successfully introduced. For the first time a population-based evaluation on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was carried out for inhabitants of a German city. The prevalence of PDR was found to be lower than previously published in comparable studied.
Hesse
L
L
MZ für Augenheilkunde, Philipps-Universität, Marburg. hesse@mailer.uni-marburg.de
Grüsser
M
M
Hoffstadt
K
K
Jörgens
V
V
Hartmann
P
P
Kroll
P
P
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005858:Germany / Q000453:epidemiology; D006279:Health Maintenance Organizations; D006801:Humans; D007429:Intraocular Pressure; D007910:Lenses, Intraocular; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors; D014792:Visual Acuity