Prevalence and departments of diabetic retinopathy in Maruleng Healthcare Facilities, Mopani District in Limpopo

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major public health problem, and it remains one of the global epidemics of non-communicable diseases. Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a micro-vascular complication of DM due to a prolonged hyperglycaemia, and it is the most common cause of a visual loss in people living with DM. The global increase in the prevalence of DM has led to an increase in prevalence of diabetic complications, such as DR. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and determinants of DR among the DM patients receiving treatment from Maruleng public healthcare facilities, Mopani District in the Limpopo Province. Methodology: A quantitative cross-sectional survey was used as a primary source data from the DM patients who were readily available at the selected public healthcare facilities to collect a chronic treatment during the time of the study. Selection of eligible DM patients was done through a convenient sampling technique for those who were readily available or willing to take part of the study after receiving all information about the study for them to consent freely without any form of coercion by researcher or any other person. All selected respondents had undergone face-to-face interviews and basic clinical screening for DR to collect a primary source data using piloted structured researcher-administered questionnaire to record data collected from respondents, and calibrated medical equipment were used to measure a clinical variables during clinical screening. Data analysis was carried out using Statistics and Data Analysis (STATA) version 15 software for windows. The characteristics of DM patients were summarised and analysed using a descriptive statistics. Inferential statistics were performed on dependent variable and independent variables using a logistic regression analysis to determine the strength of association between variables, where a potential predictors of DR among DM patients were identified at significant level of less than 0.05 (p<0.05). Results: Out of the 416 DM patients who participated in the study, the majority were females (n=315; 76%) and all DM patients were above the age of 18 years, with a mean age of 61 years (standard deviation [SD] =11.5). The overall prevalence of DR was 35.4% comprising 32% mild non-proliferative DR (NPDR) and 3.4% moderate NPDR. DR was found to be slightly more prevalent in females, at 35.9%, than in males, at 34.6%; particularly in those females with type 2 DM, at 35.1%, comprising 32.1% mild NPDR and 3% moderate NPDR. DR was more prevalent in older females, at 77.8%, comprising 55.6% mild NPDR and 22.2% moderate NPDR. The DM patients aged 55 years and above were found to be 2.7 times more likely to develop DR, at p<0.001, and DM patients with higher systolic blood pressure of 140 mmHg or more were found to be 1.4 times more likely to develop DR as compared to DM patients with a systolic blood pressure of 139 mmHg or less (≤139 mmHg), at p<0.05. Employed DM patients were 1.4 times more likely to develop DR as compared to unemployed DM patients, at p<0.001. Age of the DM patients, high systolic blood pressure (SBP) or a hypertension of 140 mmHg or more (≥ 140 mmHg), and employment status were significantly associated with higher risk of developing DR among DM patients. Gender, hyperglycaemic state, poor glycaemic control, smoking and high BMI were found to be associated with DR but this association was not statistically significant. Conclusion and recommendations: Slightly more than one third of the DM patients receiving treatment during the study period from the public healthcare facilities in the Maruleng sub-district had some form of DR, which means that nearly four in ten DM patients had some form of DR. Diabetic retinopathy was more prevalent in females, and in older DM patients. Age of the DM patient, employment status, and high systolic blood pressure were significantly associated with an increased risk of developing DR among the DM patients. There is an urgent need to implement a health promotional programmes to educate people about the complications of a diabetes mellitus such as DR, and also to establish a coordinated screening programme for DR among DM patients receiving a chronic treatment, which must be supported by the Department of Health in all public healthcare facilities. Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Diabetic Retinopathy, Prevalence, Determinants