Diabetic retinopathy, visual impairment and ocular status among patients with diabetes mellitus in Yemen: a hospital-based study.
BACKGROUND
We present a series of patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who attended an eye hospital in Sana, Yemen during 2004.


OBJECTIVE
To determine the magnitude and risk factors of diabetic retinopathy (DR).


METHODS
Cross-sectional study.


METHODS
Ophthalmologists assessed vision, ocular pressure, ocular media and posterior segment to note ocular manifestations among patients with DM. DR was graded by using bio-microscope and Volk lens. The prevalence and 95% confidence interval of ocular complications of DM were calculated. Risk factors of DR like age, sex, duration of diabetes and hypertension were evaluated.


METHODS
Univariate and multivariate analysis.


RESULTS
Our series comprised 350 patients suffering from DM. The duration of diabetes was > or =15 years in 101 (29%) patients. Physician was treating 108 DM patients with insulin. The prevalence of DR was 55% (95% CI 49.6-60.1). The proportions of background diabetic retinopathy (BDR), preproliferative diabetic retinopathy (PPDR), proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) and diabetic macular edema were 20%, 13%, 17% and 22% respectively. The prevalence of blindness among DM patients was 16%. The prevalence of cataract and glaucoma was 34.3% and 8.6%. Duration of DM was the predictor of DR. One-fifth of the patients had sight-threatening DR and needed laser treatment.


CONCLUSIONS
DR was of public health magnitude among our patients. An organized approach is recommended to address DR in the study area.
Bamashmus
Mahfouth A
MA
Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Sana'a University and Ibn Al-Haitham Eye Center, University of Science and Technology, Oman.
Gunaid
Abdallah A
AA
Khandekar
Rajiv B
RB
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology; D002386:Cataract / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005123:Eye / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005901:Glaucoma / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007328:Insulin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D008269:Macular Edema / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000209:etiology*; D015006:Yemen
D007004:Hypoglycemic Agents; D007328:Insulin