Prevalence and Factors Associated with Diabetic Retinopathy among Adult Diabetes Patients in Southeast Ethiopia: A Hospital-Based Cross-Sectional Study

Abstract

Background Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most prevalent microvascular consequence of diabetes mellitus, and it can result in blindness that is irreversible. Due to delayed diagnosis and limited access to diabetic care, the situation is even worse in developing countries. Scientific evidence on the prevalence of DR and its associated factors among diabetes patients in low-income countries, such as Ethiopia, is limited. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of DR and associated factors among adult diabetes patients in southeast Ethiopia. Methods A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted among diabetes patients who visited Madda Walabu University Goba Referral Hospital. Fundus and slit-lamp examination were performed for screening of DR. Multivariate binary logistic regression was computed to identify factors associated with DR. Results A total of 256 patients (144 men, 56.2%) aged 50.15±15.71 years were included in the study. The prevalence of any DR was 19.9% (95% CI 15.4%–25.3%), mild nonproliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) 10.9% (95% CI 7.6%–15.4%), moderate NPDR 5.9% (95% CI 3.5%–9.5%), severe NPDR 0.9% (95% CI 0.2%–3.9%), and proliferative DR 2.3% (95% CI 1.0%–5.1%). Duration of diabetes ≥10 years (AOR 10.22, 95% CI 1.70–61.44), central obesity (AOR 5.42, 95% CI 1.38–21.19), overweight/obese (AOR 2.65, 95% CI 1.02–6.92), lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (AOR 5.82, 95% CI 1.86–18.24), moderate triglyceride:HDL cholesterol ratio (AOR 4.13, 95% CI 1.13–15.15), and urban dwelling (AOR 2.84, 95% CI 1.04–7.78) were significantly associated with DR. Conclusion One in every five DM patients had DR. Sociodemographic, anthropometric, and blood lipids were independently associated with DR. To reduce the burden of diabetes, strategies that focus on lifestyle modifications targeted at identified modifiable risk factors are essential.

Impact of sarcosine on diabetic retinopathy: Findings based on weighted gene co‐expression network analysis and machine learning techniques

“…However, Sasso et al have reported that higher HDL‐C could be a risk factor for DR 39 . Other studies have suggested that a higher HDL‐C level was associated with a reduced prevalence of DR 40,41 . The disparity of these findings suggests that the relationship between HDL‐C and DR may be complicated and is still unclear.…”

“…This was consistent with a previous prospective study that indicated a connection between HDL-C and renal events, but not between HDL-C and retinal events in patients with T2D. However, Sasso et al have reported that higher HDL-C could be a risk factor for DR. 39 Other studies have suggested that a higher HDL-C level was associated with a reduced prevalence of DR. 40,41 The disparity of these findings suggests that the relationship between HDL-C and DR may be complicated and is still unclear. Interestingly, an obvious interaction between sarcosine and HDL-C on DR was observed in our study.…”

Visual impairment among diabetes patients in Ethiopia: A systematic review and meta-analysis

“…The twenty-six studies [20,25,26,, six studies [57][58][59][60][61][62] and two studies [63,64] were conducted using cross-sectional, retrospective cohort and case-control study designs respectively. Regarding geographical region, seventeen studies [20, 25, 26, 35, 36, 38, 40, 43, 45, 49-51, 55, 56, 60-62] were conducted in Amhara, eight studies [39,41,44,48,52,58,59,63] were conducted in Oromia, five studies [42,46,53,57,64] were conducted in Addis Ababa, three studies [37,47,54] were conducted in Southern nations, nationalities and peoples, and one study [34] was conducted in Sidama region.…”

“…Five studies [35,38,44,49,56] showed that obesity was significantly associated with visual impairment. The pooled AOR of visual impairment for diabetes patients having obesity was 4.77 (95% CI: 3.00, 7.59; I 2 = 0%; P<0.93).…”

Risk Factors Associated with Diabetic Retinopathy among Patients Aged 50-75 Years Attending Diabetic Clinic at Mbagathi Hospital Nairobi County, Kenya

“…Longterm diabetes management is important in delaying the progression of eye complications. Improved lipid profile and hypertension control can also slow the progression of retinopathy, especially when initiated soon after the diagnosis of diabetes [13].…”