Antioquia, no more blind due to Diabetes. 25 years in blindness prevention

Abstract

25 years ago, we started in Antioquia the campaign “No more blind from diabetes”. This campaign was possible due to the collaboration of the Hospital San Vicente Fundación, Antioquia University, the Ophthalmology programs of Pontificia Bolivariana University and CES University. This campaign is held annually around November 14. In 2022 we commemorated version No. 25. Results: We have evaluated approximately 15,000 patients to the present time, an average of 600 per year. Among all these patients 50% attend for the first time each year, 70% are females and 80% are type 2 diabetics. We found a prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) of 15.5% and 64% of these patients are females. These patients have been diagnosed with diabetes for about 12 years and they have shown poor metabolic control of their diabetes with an average glycosylated Hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) of 11.2% (normal range below 5.7%). The stage of the retinopathy showed that 70% of the patients had the non-proliferative form. We found that 1 out of 3 patients presented with severe visual loss due to severe non-proliferative retinopathy and macular edema. The main etiology of chronic vision loss in diabetic patients is diabetic macular edema found in 22% of the patients and the majority were females with type 2 diabetes over 60 years of age with an average HbA1C of 10%. Conclusions: This is the largest screening and ongoing test for DR done in Colombia, South America. This study focuses on the most vulnerable population and the results provide relevant information about the epidemiology of this disease. The results generate awareness about early diagnosis, medical care of its complications, education of the population, and the proper guidance for their treatment and rehabilitation.