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Short report: suboptimal diabetes care in high‐risk diabetic patients attending a specialist retina clinic
Author(s) -
AlAnsari S. A.,
Tennant M. T. S.,
Greve M. D. J.,
Hinz B. J.,
Senior P. A.
Publication year - 2009
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.1464-5491.2009.02862.x
Subject(s) - medicine , diabetes mellitus , retina , diabetic retinopathy , optometry , pediatrics , emergency medicine , family medicine , ophthalmology , endocrinology , physics , optics
Aims Individuals with diabetic retinopathy (DR) represent a high‐risk group who would benefit from intensive metabolic control and risk factor management. This brief report examines quality of care among diabetic patients attending a tertiary retinal clinic. Methods A cross‐sectional survey, notes review, and slit‐lamp examination was conducted in 139 diabetic patients attending a specialist retinal clinic to assess the quality of comprehensive diabetes care. DR was graded according to the Early Treatment Diabetic Retinopathy Study scale. Results The prevalence of non‐proliferative DR (NPDR) and proliferative DR (PDR) was 39.6 and 35.2%, respectively. The prevalence of microalbuminuria in patients with no DR, NPDR and PDR was 32, 54.1 and 68.8%, respectively. Glycaemic control was suboptimal (mean HbA 1c 8.0 ± 1.8%) and 15.8% were current smokers. Drugs affecting the renin–angiotensin system were used by only 61.9% of patients with both DR and microalbuminuria, and aspirin by only 35.3%. Conclusions These data suggest that diabetes care in this high‐risk population with established microvascular complications was suboptimal. Specialist clinics dealing with diabetic complications may be a setting where quality improvement strategies to reduce morbidity and mortality should be focused.