The purpose of this study was to understand the awareness, prevalence of
diabetic retinopathy and treatment status of people aged over 50 and living in the rural areas of Shuangcheng city, Heilongjiang province, China.
METHODS: Cluster sampling was used in randomly selected 5504 survey for ophthalmic clinical examination, in patients with
diabetic retinopathy. A questionnaire in the state of knowledge about prevention and treatment was developed.
RESULTS: Among the 5504 persons entering in the project, 5053 were examined on their eyes (91.8%). In this selected population, 56 persons (112 eyes) were diagnosed as
diabetic retinopathy (1.108%), with 95% confidence interval (CI) as: 0.819% to 1.397%. Of 56 patients, 49 cases were non-proliferative
diabetic retinopathy, accounting for 87.50% of the total number of patients with
diabetic retinopathy; proliferative
diabetic retinopathy 7 cases, accounting for 12.50% of the 112 eyes, 6.25% (7/112) having
vitreous hemorrhage, 8.04% (9/112) having
macular edema. For
diabetic retinopathy prevalence rates, there was no significant difference in males and females. Between the per differential 10-year-old division, the difference was significant. Among the 60 to 69 group, a significantly higher prevalence rate was seen. Of the 112 eyes with
diabetic retinopathy, 34 eyes (30.4%) were
low vision [visual acuity < 20/60 (0.3) to ≥ 20/400 (0.05)]; 6 eyes (5.4%) were blind [visual acuity < 20/400 (0.05) to NLP]. The rate in the patients with PDR and fasting
blood glucose was above 11.1 mmol/L was higher than having NPDR and fasting
blood glucose below 11.1 mmol/L. Having fasting
blood glucose 11.1 mmol/L and above with the course over five years among patients with PDR, the proportion of fasting
blood glucose was higher than those with less than 11.1 mmol/L and
diabetic retinopathy duration of less than five years. Of 56 patients with
diabetic retinopathy, 38 cases (67.9%) did not receive any treatment. Among 18 cases (32.1%) with
insulin or oral
drug therapy, regularly using
insulin or other medication (14.3%), only 1 (1.8%) case was given the treatment for
diabetic retinopathy. Results from our survey showed that patients with
diabetic retinopathy had a poor understanding about prevention and treatment of the disease.
CONCLUSION: