title: A community-based study for the utility values associated with diabetic retinopathy among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan.
abstract: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted to assess the utility values associated with varying degrees of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among type 2 diabetics in Kinmen, Taiwan. A total of 725 eligible type 2 diabetics received DR screening during 1999-2002 and then evaluated utility values in 2003. The diagnosis of DR was performed by a panel of ophthalmologists using ophthalmoscopy and a 45-degree color retinal photographs to examine fundus after dilating pupils. The utility values were measured by using time trade-off method. There were 406 type 2 diabetics participating the utility survey with 56% response rate. The overall mean utility value was 0.92+/-0.12 (95% confidence intervals (CI): 0.91-0.93) suggesting that type 2 diabetics were willing to trade about 8% (95%CI: 7-9%) of their remaining life in return for being free of type 2 diabetes perpetually. The significant associated factors of utility values based on the multiple linear regression analysis were older age and different degrees of DR among type 2 diabetics. In conclusion, our results found that in addition to older age, different degrees of DR do decrease utility values in type 2 diabetics from the patient's preference-based viewpoint.
authors.affiliation: Community Medicine Research Center and Institute of Public Health, National Yang-Ming University, Shih-Pai, 112 Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Tao-Hsin
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Tung
authors.forename: Shih-Jen
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Fenq-Li
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Jorn-Hon
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Ching-Heng
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Pesus
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011788:Quality of Life; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013624:Taiwan