Demographics and awareness of diabetic retinopathy among diabetic patients attending the vitreo-retinal service at a tertiary eye care center in Nepal

Abstract

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness in Nepal. To investigate the demographic characteristics and awareness of diabetic retinopathy among new cases of diabetes mellitus (DM) attending the vitreo-retinal service of a tertiary eye care centre in Nepal. A hospital-based, cross-sectional study including all consecutive new cases of DM was carried out. Detailed demographics of the subjects and their awareness of potential ocular problems from diabetes mellitus were noted. A total of 210 patients with a mean age of 57 +/- 10.4 years were included. Brahmins (34.8 %) and Newars (34.3 %) were the predominant ethnic groups. Housewives (38.6 %) and office workers (18.6 %) were the major groups affected. Two-fifths (37 %) of the cases were unaware of DR and its potential for blindness. Awareness was significantly higher among literate patients (P = 0.006). Fundus evaluation was done for the first time in 48.6 %, although almost four-fifths had a duration of diabetes of five years or more. DR was found in 78 % of the cases, with 16.7 % already at the proliferative stage and about 40 % exhibiting clinically significant diabetic macular edema. A lack of awareness of DR coupled with a high proportion of cases already at a sight-threatening stage of retinopathy at their first presentation reflects the need for improved awareness programs to reduce the burden of blindness from DR in Nepal.