[Application of a method for the early detection of diabetic retinopathy in Primary Health Care].
METHODS
An ophthalmic examination was performed in 1,495 diabetic patients by means of a photographic method with a non-mydriatic retinal (Ffo-CNM) camera (with inclusion of 81.5% of the total diabetic population in our area attended in three primary care centers in Terrasa, Barcelona.


RESULTS
The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy known prior to the study was 15% (n = 218). With the application of the Ffo-CNM method the prevalence increased up to 28% (p = 0.0001). The diagnoses obtained were: normal fundoscopic appearance (bilateral), 61% (n = 908), DR without maculopathy, 22% (n = 334); DR with maculopathy, 5% (n = 75); severe DR or preproliferative DR, 0.1% (n = 1), and proliferative DR, 0.7% (n = 10). The fundus was not visible in 11% (n = 167) of patients, mainly because of darkness refractory miosis (48%) and media opacity (43%). Thirty-nine percent of examined patients were referred to the referral Ophthalmology department either because DR or non-visible eye fundus.


CONCLUSIONS
The use of Ffo-CNM enhances the ophthalmoscopic examination in the diabetic population given the simplicity of the technique and its accessibility with the corresponding increase in the number of diagnoses of DR. Likewise, it improves the care quality to the diabetic patient and also the reationalization of patient referral to the ophthalmologic centers.
Sender Palacios
M J
MJ
Centro de Atención Primaria Terrassa Nord. Unidad Docente de Medicina Familiar y Comunitaria del Consorci Sanitari de Terrassa. Barcelona. Spain. sdireccioctn@csdt.es
Maseras Bover
M
M
Vernet Vernet
M
M
Larrosa Sáez
P
P
de la Puente Martorell
M L
ML
Foz Sala
M
M
D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015995:Prevalence; D011320:Primary Health Care; D013997:Time Factors