The magnitude and pattern of diabetic retinopathy at Central Hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon

Abstract

Objective: To determine the magnitude, pattern and associations of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients attending diabetic clinic of Central Hospital of Yaounde, Cameroon (CHY). Design: Cross-sectional hospital based study. Subjects: A total of 371 patients ranging from 20-99 years of age attending the diabetic clinic during the month of September to'mid October 2010 underwent detailed eye examination for diabetic retinopathy. The blood pressures, HbAlc, fasting blood sugar of all the patients were also measured and clinical grading of diabetic retinopathy was done by using the ETDRS guidelines. Results: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy w'as found to be 49.2%. Severe NPDR was found in 12(3.2%) patients, CSME was found in 30(8.1%) patients. PDR in 53(14.3%) patients and vision threatening diabetic retinopathy was found in 27.3% of patients. There was a statistically significant association between diabetic retinopathy and duration of diabetes. HbAlc. FBS. systemic blood pressure and nephropathy. Only 41 (11.1%) patients did not have an eye examination prior to this study. Among the study subjects only 50.1% had their HbAlc below 7%. There was no association of DR and sex of the patient.

Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was high in this study and the number of diabetics who had an eye examination by an ophthalmologist prior to this study Majority of the subjects had poor blood sugar control, explaining probably the hig of diabetic retinopathy and therefore the need for a better referral system for earl\ s< management of DR in this population.