[Diabetic retinopathy in type 1 diabetics in the county of Frederiksborg].
BACKGROUND
Screening for diabetic retinopathy in a Danish county--are we following the recommendations? Incidence and risk factors of development and progression of diabetic retinopathy and prevalence of blindness among type 1 diabetics consulting the hospital of Hillerød are being described.


METHODS
A total of 223 type 1 diabetics (debut < 30 years of age, insulin treated from first year of diagnosis) identified in a cross-sectional study in 1993 and followed until 2000 when data from last examination in the diabetes out-patient clinic and the ophthalmology clinic are registered.


RESULTS
Ophthalmologists have screened nearly 97% of the patients as stated in the recommendations of the department. Only 2% were blind and only one patient went blind during the study period. The incidence of development of retinopathy was (54/119) 45%, (14/104) 13% had improved, (77/194) 40% had a progression of retinopathy, and (30/194) 15% had progressed to proliferative retinopathy. Risk factors found in the study match previously described risk factors.


CONCLUSIONS
Audits encourage the implementation of screening programmes and hence reduce sight threatening diabetic retinopathy. The results of the study emphasize the importance of close co-operation between diabetes out-patient clinics and ophthalmologists and the necessity of regular screening. More audits are needed to bring screening for diabetic eye disease into focus and decrease the number of weak-sighted and blind diabetics.
Jacobsen
Nina
N
Hillerød Sygehus, øjenafdelingen, Medicinsk Afdeling F. njac@dadlnet.dk
Kjer
Birgit E
BE
Goldschmidt
Ernst
E
Andersen
Ole Ortved
OO
Thorsteinsson
Birger
B
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001766:Blindness / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D015897:Comorbidity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007328:Insulin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D008485:Medical Audit; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012307:Risk Factors
D007328:Insulin