Diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in people aged 50 years and older in the Republic of Suriname.
OBJECTIVE
Population-based surveys on diabetes and diabetic retinopathy (DR) are necessary to increase awareness and develop screening and therapeutic programmes. The aim was to estimate the prevalence of DR in older adults of different ethnic backgrounds in Suriname.


METHODS
Fifty clusters of 60 people aged ≥50 years were randomly selected with a probability proportional to the size of the population unit. Eligible people were randomly selected through compact segment sampling and examined using the Rapid Assessment of Avoidable Blindness plus Diabetic Retinopathy (RAAB + DR) protocol. Participants were classified as having diabetes if they: were previously diagnosed with diabetes; were receiving treatment for glucose control; had a random blood glucose level >200 mg/dL. These participants were dilated for funduscopy, assessed for DR following the Scottish DR grading protocol and evaluated for ethnicity and DR ophthalmic screening frequencies.


RESULTS
A total of 2806 individuals was examined (response 93.6%). The prevalence of diabetes was 24.6%. In these patients any type of DR and/or maculopathy occurred in 21.6% and sight-threatening DR in 8.0%. Of the known diabetics, 34.2% never had an eye examination for DR and in 13.0% the last examination was >24 months ago. The prevalence of diabetes was significantly higher in Hindustani people compared with other major ethnic groups.


CONCLUSIONS
The prevalence of diabetes and diabetics without regular DR control in people aged ≥50 years in Suriname was higher than expected. The uptake for special services for DR has to be expanded to decrease patient delay and DR-induced blindness.
Department of Ophthalmology, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands Suriname Eye Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Janna
http://orcid.org/0000-0002-5688-0479
J
Minderhoud
Suriname Eye Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Jerrel C
JC
Pawiroredjo
Suriname Eye Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Anne-Marie T
AM
Bueno de Mesquita-Voigt
Suriname Eye Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Herman Ci
HC
Themen
Suriname Eye Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Michael R
MR
Siban
Suriname Eye Center, Academic Hospital Paramaribo, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Cindy M
CM
Forster-Pawiroredjo
Health Information Services, Grootebroek, The Netherlands.
Hans
H
Limburg
Department of Ophthalmology, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Ruth Ma
RM
van Nispen
Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Anton de Kom University of Suriname, Paramaribo, Suriname.
Dennis Ra
DR
Mans
Department of Ophthalmology, EMGO+ Institute for Health and Care Research, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
Annette C
AC
Moll
D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001766:Blindness / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D003920:Diabetes Mellitus / Q000097:blood / Q000453:epidemiology*; D003930:Diabetic Retinopathy / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009887:Ophthalmoscopy; D015995:Prevalence; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013532:Suriname / Q000453:epidemiology; D014792:Visual Acuity
D001786:Blood Glucose
Epidemiology; Public health; Retina