Authors : Hemalatha BC , Kalpana BN , Shilpa YD , Ravi B , Keerti S Sulakod, Kavitha L Tumbadi
DOI : 10.18231/j.ijceo.2021.042
Volume : 7
Issue : 1
Year : 2021
Page No : 199-204
Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the awareness of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients.
Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted between from 2017 to 2019. The analysis was based on a representative sample of 624 adult subjects. Multivariable logistic analysis was used to examine socio-demographic factors associated with the levels of awareness, treatment and control of diabetes mellitus.
Results: In our study 624 participants interviewed, among them 62% were males. rest were females. Most of the study subjects were non-vegetarian (74%). and were illiterates (40%). In our study, 92% were of type 2 DM, among them nearly 44.7% were on multidrug treatment. About 31% were diagnosed with DM after developing systemic complications. On examination, it was found 44.1% had proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), 22.1 % required surgical intervention due to vision-threatening complication. Awareness regarding separate eye treatment for diabetic retinopathy was not known among 55 % of the patients. The periodicity of follow-up once treated for eye disease was poor, 74.1% being unaware.
Conclusion: In this study majority of patients were in the advanced stage of diabetic retinopathy and associated with systemic complications. Thus educating the patients about the diabetic disease, diet and multi-organ involvement and its complications and importance of regular follow-up and how to prevent significant ocular and systemic morbidity.
Keywords: Diabetic mellitus, Diabetic macular oedema, Proliferative diabetic retinopathy, Vitreous haemorrhage.