Análisis de la prevalencia de la retinopatía diabética en un programa de cribado por telemedicina durante el periodo 2018 a 2023

Background and objectives

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most common ocular complication of diabetes. Screening programmes using fundus examination with retinal imaging are a useful tool for early diagnosis of DR and an improved disease prognosis. The purpose of this study is to analyse the number of patients attended in the DR screening programme of the Castilla y León health system and to estimate DR prevalence and severity.

Material and methods

An observational study of patients previously registered as diabetic who participated in the screening programme between 2018 and 2028 was conducted. Patients were classified according to their diagnosis in non-evaluable test, non-evaluable patient, no DR, DR (mild, moderate, severe, proliferative, and suspected diabetic macular oedema) and other pathologies.

Results

The total number of consultations in the program up to the present date has been 31,901, increasing from 3,934 in 2018 to 9,508 in 2023. The estimated prevalence of DR is 15.41%. 1.58% of patients were referred to their reference hospitals due to DR or other pathologies requiring urgent treatment. The remaining patients were managed by the program.

Conclusions

The prevalence of DR appears to be slightly lower than that reported in other published series, but no significant differences were observed between different program years, overall assessment, or different forms of DR or suspected diabetic macular oedema.