PREVALENCE OF DIABETIC RETINOPATHY IN TYPE 2 DIABETES MELLITUS PATIENTS
Main Article Content
Keywords
Diabetic retinopathy, Type 2 diabetes mellitus, Prevalence, Risk factors, Glycemic control
Abstract
Diabetic retinopathy represents a leading cause of preventable blindness globally, with significant variations in prevalence across different populations. Understanding local disease burden is essential for developing targeted screening strategies and preventive interventions.
Methods: A total of 130 type 2 diabetes mellitus patients aged 30 years and above were recruited using convenience sampling. Comprehensive ophthalmological examinations including digital fundus photography and optical coherence tomography were performed following pupillary dilatation. Demographic data, clinical parameters, and laboratory investigations including HbA1c levels were collected. Statistical analysis employed chi-square tests, independent t-tests, and multivariate logistic regression using SPSS version 23.0.
Results: Diabetic retinopathy prevalence was 32.3% among study participants. Patients with retinopathy were significantly older (62.1±11.8 vs 56.8±12.6 years, p=0.024) with longer diabetes duration (12.4±7.1 vs 6.8±4.9 years, p<0.001) and higher HbA1c levels (10.2±2.3 vs 8.2±1.7%, p<0.001). Mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy was most common (42.9%), while sight-threatening retinopathy affected 23.8% of cases. Multivariate analysis identified diabetes duration (OR=1.12, p<0.001), poor glycemic control with HbA1c >9% (OR=4.28, p=0.001), nephropathy (OR=3.42, p=0.004), and hypertension (OR=2.38, p=0.024) as independent risk factors. Diabetic macular edema was present in 28.6% of retinopathy patients, with bilateral involvement in 66.7% of cases.
Conclusion: The substantial diabetic retinopathy burden emphasizes the critical importance of systematic screening programs, intensive glycemic control, and comprehensive cardiovascular risk management for preventing vision-threatening complications in diabetic patients.
References
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Dr. Manika Jain
Associate Professor, Department of Ophthalmology, Lord Buddha Koshi Medical College & Hospital, Saharsa, Bihar, India,