External validation of a risk assessment model to adjust the frequency of eye-screening visits in patients with diabetes mellitus.
OBJECTIVE
To validate a sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) risk assessment model to adjust the frequency of eye-screening visits in patients with diabetes mellitus.


METHODS
Retrospective follow-up study of patients with diabetes mellitus attending a diabetes center. Anonimyzed data on gender, type and duration of diabetes, HbA1c, blood pressure and the presence and grade of diabetic retinopathy were gathered to estimate risk for STDR for each individual's worse eye over time by means of a prediction model. Receiver operating characteristics (ROC) analysis was performed to determine the diagnostic ability of the model, and a calibration graph was done to see the model fit.


RESULTS
508 screening intervals were analyzed, median diabetes duration was 10years, 87% were type 2 diabetes mellitus, and 3.1% developed STDR before the next screening visit. The area under the ROC curve was 0.74, and the calibration graph showed that model had a good fit. The reduction in screening frequency was 40% compared with fixed annual screening.


CONCLUSIONS
Current prediction model used to estimate the risk of developing STDR in patients with diabetes performed well. A personalized screening frequency for diabetic retinopathy could be implemented in practice.
European Innovative Biomedicine Institute (EIBI), C/ Jardines #2, Apt. 1-G, 39700 Castro Urdiales, Cantabria, Spain. Electronic address: esoto@eibi.es.
Enrique
E
Soto-Pedre
Pinies Diabetes Centre (PDC), C/ Gran Via 40 Bis, 2°, 48009 Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain.
Jose A
JA
Pinies
European Innovative Biomedicine Institute (EIBI), C/ Jardines #2, Apt. 1-G, 39700 Castro Urdiales, Cantabria, Spain.
Maria C
MC
Hernaez-Ortega
D000368:Aged; D000553:Ambulatory Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003922:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 1 / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000175:diagnosis*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D012372:ROC Curve; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D015351:Vision Screening / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
Diabetes management algorithm; Diabetes mellitus; Diabetic retinopathy; Fundus examination; Screening; Validation study