Epidemiology study on the occurrence of diabetic retinopathy in residents at the age of ≥ 60 years in Beixinjing blocks, Shanghai

Abstract

Objective To estimate the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) in residents at the age of ≥ 60 years in Beixinjing blocks, Shanghai, and to analyze the changes and risk factors of the occurrence of DR while comparing with the previous epidemiology study in the same blocks in 2003. Methods With the help of an established resident health data, a epidemiology study was performed on all of the old residents (≥ 60 years old) with diabetes mellitus from November 2007 to April 2008. The epidemiology data included resident common information, health check, examination of visual acuity, slit-lamp biomieroscopy, direct ophthalmoscopy, and photography of 2 pictures covering 450 posterior ocular fundus area acquired by digital non-mydriasis fundus camera. The diagnosis of DR was drawn according to the international DR classification (2002). The DR grade was compared in 254 residents who were involved in both of the two epidemiology studies in 2003 and 2007. Chi-square method was used to analyze the risk factors of DR and stepwise logistic analysis was used for identifying the independent factors. Results A total of 483 diabetic residents was included in this study with the inclusion rate of 91.30%, in whom 121 DR patients was found with the DR prevalence of 25.05%. The prevalence of non-proliferative DR and proliferative DR was 22. 36% and 2. 69%, respectively. The duration of diabetes was confirmed as the independent risk factor of DR prevalence, and no risk factor was found to affect the different ratio of non-proliferative and proliferative DR. Comparing to the results of the study in 2003, the DR grade remained steadily or decreased in 92.52% of the 254 diabetes residents. Conclusion The prevalence of DR is high in the diabetic residents at the age of ≥60 years. The intervention work of DR prevention in Beixinjing blocks is effective. Key words: Diabetic retinopathy/epidemiology; Diabetic retinopathy/diagnosis; Epidemiologic methods