Screening compliance and visual outcome in diabetes.
OBJECTIVE
To study the relationship between screening compliance and visual outcome in a screening programme for diabetic eye disease.


METHODS
A retrospective case control study. The screening compliance of all the diabetes patients (n = 22) listed at the Icelandic National Registry for the Blind (visual acuity <0.3) was compared to a matched group of 44 non-blind diabetes patients (visual acuity > or =0.3) who participated in the same screening programme for diabetic retinopathy. Glycaemic control (HbA1c), office blood pressure and cholesterol levels were assessed.


RESULTS
The study group had a significantly lower level of compliance with the screening programme (27% +/- 38% [mean +/- SD] versus 77% +/- 26% [mean +/- SD]; p < 0.0001). Macular oedema or proliferative diabetic retinopathy was found in 60% (13/22) of the study group when entering the screening programme, compared to 7% (3/44) in the control group. Blood pressure (except diastolic BP among type 1 diabetes mellitus), blood glucose and cholesterol levels were identical. The prevalence of blindness and low vision amongst diabetes patients in Iceland is about 0.5%.


CONCLUSIONS
There was a significant relationship between screening compliance and visual outcome in diabetes patients in our screening programme.
Zoega
Gunnar Már
GM
Department of Ophthalmology, Landspitali University Hospital, Reykjavik, Iceland.
Gunnarsdóttir
Thornóra
T
Björnsdóttir
Sigríethur
S
Hreietharsson
Astradur B
AB
Viggósson
Guethmundur
G
Stefánsson
Einar
E
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000517:prevention & control; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007055:Iceland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010349:Patient Compliance / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D015351:Vision Screening; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000517:prevention & control; D014792:Visual Acuity / Q000502:physiology*