Abstract
Design of Study
Observational follow-up studyPurpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) can lead to vision impairment and blindness if not detected and treated early. This study aims to evaluate the rates of DR progression or regression among children and young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in India.
Methods
Children and young adults with T1DM were screened for DR between 2020-2022 at the Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, India. Baseline and follow-up fundus images were captured using a Forus Health 3netra classic digital non-mydriatic fundus camera, with a duration of one year between visits. They were then sent to the Belfast Ophthalmic Reading Centre for grading by an experienced grader and ophthalmologist. DR severity was graded according to the UK’s DR classification scale. Two main outcomes were considered (at least one step change in DR severity): 1) Overall DR Progression (in at least one eye); and 2) Overall DR regression (in at least one eye). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between groups.
Results
Among the 348 children and young adults (2.4-23.6 years) included in the analysis, 188 (54.02%) were female. Of these, 18 (5.17%) had DR progression and 11 (3.16%) had DR regression. None of the participants included in the study progressed to develop sight-threatening DR. The mean age of participants with no DR progression was 12.8 years (SD: 4.3 years) compared to 15.5 years (SD: 3.3 years) with DR progression, (P<0.05). The mean duration of diabetes for those with DR progression was 9.5 years (SD: 3.6) compared to 7.3 years (SD: 4.0), (P<0.05).
Conclusions
To date, limited studies on DR progression among children and young adults are available. This study highlights that few children and young people had DR progression after one year. Although the numbers are small, it is evident that duration of diabetes and increasing age are correlated with DR progression. Collecting more longitudinal data among children and young adults is recommended for the future. This will allow us to evaluate and predict future DR progression trends.
Observational follow-up studyPurpose: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) can lead to vision impairment and blindness if not detected and treated early. This study aims to evaluate the rates of DR progression or regression among children and young adults with Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) in India.
Methods
Children and young adults with T1DM were screened for DR between 2020-2022 at the Hirabai Cowasji Jehangir Medical Research Institute, India. Baseline and follow-up fundus images were captured using a Forus Health 3netra classic digital non-mydriatic fundus camera, with a duration of one year between visits. They were then sent to the Belfast Ophthalmic Reading Centre for grading by an experienced grader and ophthalmologist. DR severity was graded according to the UK’s DR classification scale. Two main outcomes were considered (at least one step change in DR severity): 1) Overall DR Progression (in at least one eye); and 2) Overall DR regression (in at least one eye). Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and the Mann-Whitney U test was used to compare differences between groups.
Results
Among the 348 children and young adults (2.4-23.6 years) included in the analysis, 188 (54.02%) were female. Of these, 18 (5.17%) had DR progression and 11 (3.16%) had DR regression. None of the participants included in the study progressed to develop sight-threatening DR. The mean age of participants with no DR progression was 12.8 years (SD: 4.3 years) compared to 15.5 years (SD: 3.3 years) with DR progression, (P<0.05). The mean duration of diabetes for those with DR progression was 9.5 years (SD: 3.6) compared to 7.3 years (SD: 4.0), (P<0.05).
Conclusions
To date, limited studies on DR progression among children and young adults are available. This study highlights that few children and young people had DR progression after one year. Although the numbers are small, it is evident that duration of diabetes and increasing age are correlated with DR progression. Collecting more longitudinal data among children and young adults is recommended for the future. This will allow us to evaluate and predict future DR progression trends.
| Original language | English |
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| Publication status | Published - 02 Jun 2023 |
| Event | 33rd Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetic Eye Complications 2023 - Coimbra, Portugal Duration: 01 Jun 2023 → 03 Jun 2023 |
Conference
| Conference | 33rd Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetic Eye Complications 2023 |
|---|---|
| Abbreviated title | EAsDEC 2023 |
| Country/Territory | Portugal |
| City | Coimbra |
| Period | 01/06/2023 → 03/06/2023 |
