Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in Diabetic Patients Referred to Mashhad Parsian Diabetes Center, Iran

Abstract

Background: Diabetes is a common disease that leads to chronic complications such as neuropathy, nephropathy, vascular diseases, and retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy is an eye condition that can cause vision loss and blindness in diabetic patients. The aim of this study is to describe the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients.
 Method: In this descriptive-cross-sectional study, 550 patients with diabetes referring to the diabetes centers in Mashhad Parsian Diabetes Center, Iran were enrolled. All patients were assessed for the presence of diabetic retinopathy by direct or indirect ophthalmoscopy. A standardized protocol was used to grade diabetic retinopathy. Two groups of diabetic patients with and without retinopathy were compared in terms of body mass index (BMI), gender, disease duration and type of diabetes, history of blood pressure, history of blood lipids, hemoglobin AIC and albumin.
 Results: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among 550 diabetic patients was 23.4% (129 patients). Age, duration of diabetic disease, history of high blood pressure, history of high blood lipids, type 2 diabetes and urine albumin were significantly different between the diabetic patients with and without retinopathy, while no significant difference was observed between the two groups in terms of gender, BMI, smoking, and hemoglobin A1C level.
 Conclusion: Due to the high prevalence of DR in diabetic patients, it is recommended that retinal examination should always be considered in the evaluation of diabetic patients.