Abstract
Objective
To determine the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other pathologies in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending during the first 6-months of a diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programme (DRSP) in Mbeya, Tanzania.
Methods
In May 2018, the first fundus camera and retinal laser were received at Mbeya Ophthalmology Unit, Tanzania, as part of the 2020 Links/Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Programme. Five staff completed their Certificate of Higher Education in DRSP. In November 2018 an advanced training and quality assurance visit was conducted, and all images assessed to determine DR prevalence and any other pathologies.
Results
During the first 6-months of DRSP, 104 DM patients were screened. Only 6% of images were ungradable, all but one due to pathology. Of the gradable images, 39% had no DR, 17% had mild non-proliferative (NPDR), 8% had severe NPDR and 31% had proliferative DR (PDR); 34% had diabetic maculopathy. Overall, 61% had DR including 31% with PDR; in a developed DRSP the expected ratio is approximately 33% for any DR and 1% for PDR. 38% of patients also had drusen, 13% had cataract, 5% had an epiretinal membrane and 3% had suspected glaucoma.
Conclusions
The high rates of disease reflect a screening service in its infancy and the fact that the screened population was from a tertiary diabetes clinic; with increased coverage the prevalence will decrease. The lack of free healthcare for those with Type 2 DM in Tanzania leads to late presentation as DR rarely causes visual loss until it is too late to treat. However, the inception of this DRSP is a vital step towards reducing preventable blindness in the region
To determine the prevalence and severity of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other pathologies in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) attending during the first 6-months of a diabetic retinopathy (DR) screening programme (DRSP) in Mbeya, Tanzania.
Methods
In May 2018, the first fundus camera and retinal laser were received at Mbeya Ophthalmology Unit, Tanzania, as part of the 2020 Links/Queen’s Diamond Jubilee Programme. Five staff completed their Certificate of Higher Education in DRSP. In November 2018 an advanced training and quality assurance visit was conducted, and all images assessed to determine DR prevalence and any other pathologies.
Results
During the first 6-months of DRSP, 104 DM patients were screened. Only 6% of images were ungradable, all but one due to pathology. Of the gradable images, 39% had no DR, 17% had mild non-proliferative (NPDR), 8% had severe NPDR and 31% had proliferative DR (PDR); 34% had diabetic maculopathy. Overall, 61% had DR including 31% with PDR; in a developed DRSP the expected ratio is approximately 33% for any DR and 1% for PDR. 38% of patients also had drusen, 13% had cataract, 5% had an epiretinal membrane and 3% had suspected glaucoma.
Conclusions
The high rates of disease reflect a screening service in its infancy and the fact that the screened population was from a tertiary diabetes clinic; with increased coverage the prevalence will decrease. The lack of free healthcare for those with Type 2 DM in Tanzania leads to late presentation as DR rarely causes visual loss until it is too late to treat. However, the inception of this DRSP is a vital step towards reducing preventable blindness in the region
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Publication status | Published - 29 Sept 2021 |
| Event | 12th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health - Virtual, Bergen, Norway Duration: 28 Sept 2021 → 01 Oct 2021 |
Conference
| Conference | 12th European Congress on Tropical Medicine and International Health |
|---|---|
| Country/Territory | Norway |
| City | Bergen |
| Period | 28/09/2021 → 01/10/2021 |
