title: Prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy in Northwest Cameroon as identified by teleophthalmology.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Diabetic retinopathy is a common ocular complication of diabetes mellitus, which can lead to significant visual impairment. The present study is the first to characterize the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy and other ocular pathologies in a population of patients with diabetes who live in Northwest Cameroon using teleophthalmology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of the electronic charts of patients at the Banso Baptist Hospital and in neighboring communities between July 1, 2007 and June 30, 2008 was completed. The eyes of 253 consecutive patients with diabetes mellitus who attended mobile teleophthalmology clinics in Northwest Cameroon were included in the study. Eyes were graded for diabetic retinopathy using stereoscopic seven-field digital retinal images obtained by a mobile team in Cameroon and graded by ophthalmologists in Canada utilizing Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study criteria.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Diabetic retinopathy was identified in 20.6% of eyes (18.2% nonproliferative, 2.4% proliferative) and in 24.3% of patients. About 8.0% of eyes demonstrated evidence of macular edema. Additional nondiabetes-related ocular pathologies were identified in 14.6% of eyes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Diabetic retinopathy was found to be common in people with diabetes who attended teleophthalmology clinics in Northwest Cameroon. The prevalence of treatable disease including macular edema and retinal neovascularization suggests that improved patient access to laser photocoagulation and vitreoretinal surgery would be beneficial in reducing vision loss in this vulnerable population. As the prevalence of diabetes increases across sub-Saharan Africa, the challenge of diagnosing and managing the complications of diabetes will increase.
authors: Department of Ophthalmology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada. imran.jivraj@gmail.com
authors: Imran
authors: I
authors: Jivraj
authors: Mancho
authors: M
authors: Ng
authors: Chris J
authors: CJ
authors: Rudnisky
authors: Beri
authors: B
authors: Dimla
authors: Emmanuel
authors: E
authors: Tambe
authors: Nawaaz
authors: N
authors: Nathoo
authors: Matthew T S
authors: MT
authors: Tennant
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D002648:Child; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D017216:Telemedicine / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D013997:Time Factors; D055815:Young Adult