1. Short report: suboptimal diabetes care in high-risk diabetic patients attending a specialist retina clinic.
- Author
-
Al-Ansari, S. A., Tennant, M. T. S., Greve, M. D. J., Hinz, B. J., and Senior, P. A.
- Subjects
DIABETIC retinopathy ,DIABETES risk factors ,NONSTEROIDAL anti-inflammatory agents ,RETINAL diseases ,ASPARTIC proteinases - Abstract
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. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF