Prevalence And Factors Associated With Diabetic Retinopathy, A Multi-Centric Study In Kuwait

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) remains one of the major causes of vision loss and blindness in young adults despite the availability of effective treatment. Objective: To determine the prevalence of DR among adult diabetic patients attending primary health care centers in Kuwait and to identify factors that could be associated with DR. Methods: The current study is a part of a larger multi-centric one. The first phase of the study is a cross sectional one to determine the prevalence of DR among diabetic patients attending the selected primary health care centers. The second one was a nested case-control study, whereas all patients with DR (case group n = 216) were compared with all other diabetic patients without DR (control group n = 488) to determine the associated factors with cases. A pre-designed questionnaire included socio-demographic, clinical data, in addition to health care characteristics and personal practice. Basic univariate analyses were followed by multiple logistic regression analysis. Results: The prevalence of DR among adult diabetic patients attending primary health care centers was 43.6%. Of the personal factors examined, age was the only significant determinant of DR (OR = 2.2, 95% CI: 1.1 – 5.2) and (OR = 4.6, 95% CI: 2.0 – 11.0) for age groups 50 – 59 and > 60 as compared with those 20 years as compared with Keywords: Diabetic retinopathy - prevalence - associated factors