title: Prevalence and causes of visual impairment in diabetic patients in Tunisia, North Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the prevalence and causes of blindness and partial sight among a population of Tunisian diabetic patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study of 2320 randomly identified patients with diabetes mellitus. Patient's characteristics as well as data from the last ophthalmic examination were reviewed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all patients examined, 60.2% were females and 39.8% were males. Mean age of patients was 54.5 years. Mean duration of diabetes was 7.6 years. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) was recorded in 26.3% of patients, and was proliferative in 3.4% of patients. The prevalence of visual impairment was 22.2%, with 4.4% patients legally blind and 17.8% partially sighted. Visual impairment was significantly associated with age ≥60 years (P<0.001), duration of diabetes >10 years (P<0.001), body mass index >25 (P=0.014), hypertension (P<0.001), heart disease (P<0.001), peripheral neuropathy (P=0.03), vegetative neuropathy (P=0.002), macroalbuminuria (P<0.001), cataract (P<0.001), DR (P<0.001), diabetic macular edema (P<0.001), open angle glaucoma (P<0.001), intravitreal hemorrhage (P<0.001), rubeosis iridis (P<0.001), neovascular glaucoma (P<0.001), and tractional retinal detachment (P<0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The current report is the largest study of DR in North African region. It provides a baseline data against which future progress can be assessed. Screening and treatment can greatly reduce the incidence of visual impairment due to diabetes.
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kahloun
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Jelliti
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Zaouali
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Attia
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ben Yahia
authors.affiliation: International Health and Development, Geneva, Switzerland.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Resnikoff
authors.affiliation: 1] Department of Ophthalmology, Fattouma Bourguiba University Hospital, Monastir, Tunisia [2] Faculty of Medicine, University of Monastir, Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Khairallah
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D001824:Body Constitution; D002648:Child; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000453:epidemiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D014416:Tunisia / Q000453:epidemiology; D015354:Vision, Low / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019987:Persons with Visual Disabilities / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose