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Screening Programme for Microvascular Complications and Hypertension in a Community Diabetic Population
Author(s) -
Higgs E.R.,
Kelleher A.,
Simpson H.C.R.,
Reckless J.P.D.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
diabetic medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.474
H-Index - 145
eISSN - 1464-5491
pISSN - 0742-3071
DOI - 10.1111/j.1464-5491.1992.tb01837.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , diabetic retinopathy , nephropathy , population , retinopathy , diabetic nephropathy , intensive care medicine , pediatrics , endocrinology , environmental health
The role of a community‐based screening programme for microvascular complications of diabetes and hypertension was evaluated in the semi‐rural town of Trowbridge (population 31000). Of 405 diabetic patients identified (prevalence 1.31%), 358 (88%) attended for screening, 94 (26%) of whom were under hospital review for diabetes. In only 136 patients (38%) were all aspects of diabetes care found to be satisfactory. The remaining 222 patients included 162 patients with poor metabolic control (HbA 1 ≥ 12%), 118 who were hypertensive at screening, 13 with previously undiagnosed diabetic nephropathy, and 29 with undiagnosed potentially sight‐threatening retinopathy. Overall standards of diabetes care in this community population appear inadequate, and might be improved by introduction of a simple screening programme for diabetic complications.