Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy in the City of Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina

Abstract

Background: The main causes of severe vision loss and blindness in Europe are age-related retinal diseases, particularly age-related macular degeneration (AMD), diabetic eye disease (DED), and a host of vascular conditions. Both the prevalence and incidence of severe vision loss are expected to increase in territories where life expectancy is increasing. Objective: The aim of this study is to estimate the current prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and the most common risks for its development in the city of Sarajevo, a Capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Methods: This retrospective single center study included 205 diabetic patients from the city of Sarajevo who attended the regular ophthalmological examination at the Specialty Eye Hospital Svjetlost, in a branch located in the city center, from August 2021 to August 2022. Patients underwent a complete medical assessment by ophthalmology specialists. The retinal examination included an evaluation of the presence of diabetic retinopathy. Any retinopathy present was graded as mild non-proliferative retinopathy, moderate-severe non-proliferative retinopathy, or proliferative retinopathy (PDR). Results: Retinopathy was present in 40.49 % of patients included in this study; 13.17 % had the mild form of diabetic retinopathy, 7.80 % had the moderate-severe form, and 19.51 % had a proliferative form of diabetic retinopathy. The mean duration of diabetes diagnosis was 11.12 years overall, 11.74 years in men, and 10.22 in women. Macular edema was present in 38.55% of patients with retinopathy, 6.02 % in patients with mild form, 8.43 % in patients with moderate-severe form, and 24.09 % in patients with PDR. Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Sarajevo is relatively high, and the most common is a severe form of the disease. Regular diabetic retinopathy screening in primary healthcare services and hospital eye services is highly recommended for the timely prevention of visual impairment and blindness.