Diabetic retinopathy and visual disabilities among patients in a rehabilitation program

Abstract

Objective: To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and to evaluate the management of patients with visual disabilities attending at the CEPRE Rehabilitation Program of University of Campinas. Methods: A retrospective study was carried out based on medical records of patients with visual disabilities attending a vision rehabilitation program. The following variables were studied: gender, age, marital status, level of schooling, social security status, origin, type and cause of visual disability and vision rehabilitation actions. Results: The sample consisted of 155 patients, 55.5% males, aged between 12 and 88 years, mean age 41 years old, 34.8% were blind and 65.2% with low vision disability. Of those blind patients, 81.8% reported acquired blindness, and the leading cause was diabetic retinopathy (33.3%), followed by glaucoma (16.6%), and retinal detachment (15.0%). Of those patients with low vision disability, 14.9% had diabetic retinopathy, 14.9% hereditary syndromes, and 10.9% age-related macular degeneration. Vision rehabilitation therapy included interdisciplinary team consultations helping patients go through the mourning process for the loss or impairment of vision, and promoting the enhancement of their skills for performing activities of daily living independently. The management of patients with low vision was also focused on vision rehabilitation. Conclusion: The health of the eyes of patients with chronic diseases such as diabetes is at risk. The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was found to be a cause for visual disability, suggesting the need to assess these patients' access to health care and rehabilitation and promote health education for changing habits and improving quality of life.Keywords: Diabetes mellitus; Blindness; Vision, low; Vision disorders/rehabilitation; Quality of life RESUMOObjetivo: Verificar a prevalência da retinopatia diabética e as condutas desenvolvidas entre deficientes visuais atendidos pelo Programa de Reabilitação no CEPRE da Universidade Estadual de Campinas. Métodos: O estudo retrospectivo transversal foi desenvolvido a partir da análise de prontuários de pacientes que participaram do programa de reabilitação de deficientes visuais, considerando-se as variáveis: sexo, idade, estado civil, escolaridade, situação de seguridade, procedência, tipo e a causa da deficiência visual e condutas reabilitacionais. Resultados: A casuística constou de 155 pacientes, 55,5% do sexo masculino, faixa etária entre 12 e 88 anos, média de idade de 41 anos, 34,8% cegos e 65,2% com baixa visão. Dos cegos, 81,8% tinham cegueira adquirida, sendo a retinopatia diabética (33,3%) a causa prevalente da cegueira, seguida por glaucoma (16,6%) e descolamento de retina (15,0%). Dos pacientes com baixa visão, 14,9% apresentavam a retinopatia diabética e síndromes hereditárias somaram 14,9%, seguido pela degeneração macular associada à idade (10,9%). As condutas reabilitacionais desenvolvidas para os pacientes com deficiência visual constaram de atendimentos com equipe interdiscipl...

Ocupational performance and quality of life: interrelationships in daily life of visual impaired individuals

“…Regarding the socio demographic data found in the research, similar results were found in another study conducted in 2011 (13) , also at CEPRE-FCM-UNICAMP. For example, the average age of this sample was 46.7 years old, while in this another study was 41 years, showing that maybe this is the approximated majority age that people with visual impairment search for an visual rehabilitation program.…”

Fatores associados à atividade física na deficiência visual

“…A idade média dos indivíduos nesta pesquisa foi de 37,15 anos (±11,21), média abaixo dos estudos de Becker & Montilha (2015) e Bittencourt, Montilha, Gasparetto, Temporini, & Carvalho (2011), com média de 46,7 e 41 anos, respectivamente. Já com relação ao resquício visual, esta pesquisa encontrou cerca de 53% de adultos com baixa visão, valores abaixo da pesquisa realizada por Becker & Montilha (2015) com cerca de 74% de pessoas com baixa visão e 65,2% encontrados por Bittencourt, Montilha, Gasparetto, Temporini, & Carvalho (2011). Aproximadamente 63% dos adultos desta pesquisa são considerados congênitos com relação a incidência da deficiência visual.…”

The global crisis of visual impairment: an emerging global health priority requiring urgent action

“…As the number of people with irreversible visual impairment increases, it is crucial to expand rehabilitation interventions (tertiary prevention: disability limitation) [51]. Rehabilitation has been shown to be beneficial in 75% of people with disabilities [6], with dramatic effects on quality of life [52][53][54].…”