Provision of care for diabetic retinopathy in New Zealand: are there ethnic disparities?

Aims: Ethnic disparities have been observed in treatment at first specialist appointments across various specialties within New Zealand. This study aimed to examine documentation and treatment decisions for diabetic retinopathy by ethnicity.

Methods: Retrospective audit of first specialist diabetic retinopathy clinic appointments for 388 patients at the Department of Ophthalmology, Te Whatu Ora Te Toka Tumai Auckland. Multiple domains of care were assessed, including comprehensiveness of history taking, examination, investigations and treatment decisions.

Results: Europeans comprised 42%, Māori only 9.5%, Pacific peoples 13.19%, Asian 32.7% and Middle Eastern/Latin American/African in 2%. Māori patients were eligible for a significantly greater number of treatments (p=0.001). The comprehensiveness of history taking (p=0.809), examination (p=0.513), investigations (p=0.623) and proportion of eligible treatments provided (p=0.788) was similar but did not reach the gold standard of care across all ethnicities.

Conclusions: The standard of care provided in first specialist appointments for diabetic retinopathy appear to be similar across all ethnic groups, although Māori were underrepresented and had a higher disease burden at presentation. Our data highlights the need to reduce barriers faced by Māori in accessing GP, optometry and retinopathy screening referrals in Auckland, and improving local consultation and treatment guidelines.