Coverage of a screening program and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in primary care

Abstract

Background: Diabetic retinopathy is the first cause of blindness during working years. Aim: Provide knowledge of screening coverage, prevalence and level of diabetic retinopathy in patients that belong to the Cardiovascular Health Program in primary care. Material and Methods: Analysis of retinographies performed to 9076 diabetic patients aged 61 ± 13 years (61% women) adscribed to a Cardiovascular Health program in primary care centers of South-East Metropolitan Santiago. The examination was carried out by the evaluation of retinographies by trained optometrists. Results: The coverage of the screening program was 21%. The prevalence of sight threatening diabetic retinopathy was 3,1%. The prevalence of these entities was 45% higher in people aged between 18 and 44 years than in older people. Their prevalence in urban communities was 32% higher than in rural locations. Conclusions: The coverage of the screening program is low. Diabetic patients aged 18 to 44 years and those coming from urban communities have a higher prevalence of severe non-proliferative and proliferative diabetic retinopathy.