DIABETIC RETINOPATHY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AWARENESS AND SEVERITY AT PRESENTATION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND BARRIERS TO ITS TREATMENT

Imran Ahmad; Nazli Gul; Bilal Khan; Jawad Humayun; Jahandad Khan

doi:10.46903/gjms/22.03.1573

DIABETIC RETINOPATHY CHALLENGES IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES: AWARENESS AND SEVERITY AT PRESENTATION OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY AND BARRIERS TO ITS TREATMENT

Imran Ahmad, Nazli Gul, Bilal Khan, Jawad Humayun, Jahandad Khan

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is a common cause of visual loss in diabetic patients. Diabetic population is increasing throughout the world and Pakistan ranked third in the world in terms of diabetic population. Pakistan is having the highest 26.7% prevalence of diabetes 2022. The objective of the study was to document the first presentation of severity of diabetic retinopathy, presence of macular edema, referral and the patient awareness about the risk factors of development and progression of diabetic retinopathy in our population presenting to Khyber Teaching Hospital, Peshawar.

Materials & Methods: It was a descriptive study carried out in Ophthalmology Department of Khyber Teaching Hospital Peshawar from June 2023 to November 2023. Patients who presented for the first time to ophthalmologists were included in the study. Total of 340 patients with 680 eyes were enrolled in the study.

Results: There was no diabetic retinopathy in 189 eyes (27.8%), mild non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 213 eyes (31.3%), moderate non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 104 (15.29%) eyes, proliferative diabetic retinopathy in 76 (11.2%) and advanced diabetic eye disease (ADED) in 37 (5.4%) eyes. Only 19.70% patients were referred by endocrinologist, 12.25% by physician and 3.52% by general physician. The most common barrier to the treatment of diabetic retinopathy was lack of awareness about the disease (71.17%) followed by affordability (42.94%), transportation (21.17%), dependency (12.64%).

Conclusion: Health education about diabetic retinopathy is important for the patient but along with patients treating physician and endocrinologist need to be made aware about this blinding disease for proper referral and timely management.

Keywords

Diabetic retinopathy; Awareness; Severity of retinopathy; Barriers.

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DOI: https://doi.org/10.46903/gjms/22.03.1573