Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy and Associated Risk Factors in the Southern Region of Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) has already established itself as an important global non-communicable disease with a long-term complication.Objective: To assess the prevalence and risk factors related with diabetic retinopathy (DR)Methods: This cross-sectional study reviewed records of 3299 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) who attended in retina clinic of eye department of Sher-e-Bangla Medical College, Barishal, Bangladesh from 2017-2021. Age, sex, anthropometric measurements, education, occupation, referral, current treatment protocol, registration history, visual acuity, random blood sugar was recorded from the patients. Logistic regression was done to assess the factors associated with DR.Results: The prevalence proportion of DR was 32.37 (95% CI: 30.78-33.97%). Out of this, 3.6% were proliferative DR (PDR), 10.1% were mild Non-PDR (NPDR), 11.2% were moderate NPDR and 7.4% were severe NPDR. Males (p=0.003), illiteracy (p=0.002), unemployed (p=0.03), registration information (p<0.001), patients on insulin (p<0.001), duration of DM (p<0.001), random blood sugar (p=0.009), BMI (p<0.001) were associated with DR. Middle age with moderate duration (OR=1.72, p=0.02), old age with long duration (OR=1.93, p=0.005), male gender (OR=1.42, p=0.01), random blood sugar (OR=1.07, <0.001) were positively associated with DR, while BMI was negatively associated (OR=0.96, p=0.03).Conclusion: DR is highly prevalent in Bangladeshi population. Health education, provision of employment, registry and regular follow up with DAB, controlling blood sugar and blood pressure and improving BMI could alleviate this important public health burden in our country.International Journal of Human and Health Sciences Vol. 08 No. 02 Apr’24 Page: 177-184