Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (R3) referrals from the digital diabetic retinopathy screening program: urgency of appointment in the hospital eye service achieved and needed?

T.K. Geletew, P.M. Amrelia, H.M. Wharton, P.M. Dodson, J.M. Gibson, A. Wright

Research output: Contribution to journalConference abstractpeer-review

Abstract

DESIGN. Retrospective analysis
PURPOSE. To assess the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients identified with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) referred from the screening program to the hospital eye services (HES)
METHODS. a retrospective analysis of urgently referred PDR cases to Birmingham Heartlands HES from august 2008 until July 2010
RESULTS. 130 urgent diabetic retinopathy referrals were made and reviewed. 103 (68% male, 80% type 2 diabetes) were referred for PDR with a mean age of 59 years, mean diabetes duration of 17.8years. 69% were on insulin treatment at the time of the screening, with mean HbA1c of 10.4% (range-5.7 to 16.5%). 65% of the patients were offered appointments at HES within two weeks after referral from the screening. 50.5% of the patients were seen in the HES within 2 weeks, 22 and 16 % were seen 2-4 and 4-8 weeks after referral respectively. 6 patients never attended ophthalmology examination during the two years of review. Of all the attendees, 56% were booked for pan retinal photocoagulation (PRP) & 9(9.3%) for macular laser respectively on their 1st HES visit. 75% of the patients were newly diagnosed PDR and 26 had previous PRP laser but lost to follow up. 63 patients ( 66%) received either PRP or macular laser treatment (85.7% of which is PRP). 63% of the PRP treatment was performed within a month of first HES attendance. Retinopathy grading discrepancy between the screening program and HES was noted in 20% (21 patients).
CONCLUSIONS. This data suggests that the digital screening programme is appropriately identifying high risk patients with PDR with timely PRP laser treatment in the majority of patients but raises concern over patients lost to follow up (hence failsafe tracking of appointment attendance), and review of grading discrepancies between the ophthalmology and screening service.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)348
Number of pages1
JournalEuropean Journal of Ophthalmology
Volume21
Issue number3
Publication statusPublished - 15 Apr 2011
Event21st Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Eye Complications Study Group (EASDec) - Gdansk, Poland
Duration: 13 May 201115 May 2011

Bibliographical note

Abstracts of the 21st Meeting of the European Association for the Study of Diabetes Eye Complications Study Group (EASDEc)

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