Prevalence and causes of blindness and diabetic retinopathy in Southern Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Objectives:To determine the prevalence and causes of blindness and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in Jazan district, Southern Saudi Arabia.Methods:Using the standardized Rapid Assessment for Avoidable Blindness (RAAB) and DR cross-sectional methodology, 3800 subjects were randomly selected from the population of ≥50 years of age in Jazan, Saudi Arabia between November 2011 and January 2012. Participants underwent screening comprised of interview, random blood glucose test, and ophthalmic assessment including visual acuity (VA) and fundus examination. Among participants with VA <6/18 in either eye, the cause(s) of visual impairment was determined. Participants were classified as diabetic if they had previous diagnoses of diabetes, or random blood glucose >200 mg/dl. Diabetic participants were assessed for DR using dilated fundus examination. All data were recorded using the RAAB + DR standardized forms.Results:The prevalence of bilateral blindness <3/60 was 3.3% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.74 - 3.90). Cataract was the leading cause of blindness (58.6%); followed by posterior segment diseases (20%), which included DR (7; 3.3%). The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) was 22.4%, (95% CI: 21.09 - 23.79), among them; 27.8% had DR. The prevalence of sight-threatening DR was 5.7%.Conclusion:The prevalence of DM and the corresponding proportion of DR in this region is lower than that reported in other regions of Saudi Arabia. However, the prevalence of blindness not related to DR is relatively higher than the other studies.

Diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in people aged 50 years and older in Hungary

“…Earlier RAAB with DRM studies with the same method and in the same age groups from America and the Middle East reported slightly higher (ranged from 21.0% to 29.7%)12 14 15 19 20 DM prevalence values than ours (20.0%). The Moldovan survey showed half as high (11.4%)16 DM value than in Hungary.…”

Diabetes Mellitus and Its Associated Risk Factors among adult Population in Bisha Province, Southwest of Saudi Arabia

“…Moreover, our result was greater than 4.1% reported in Riyadh region in 2000 (Karim, Ogbeide, Siddiqui, & Al-Khalifa, 2000). Nevertheless, our finding was lower compared to 22.4% reported in Jazan district (Hajar, Hazmi, Wasli, Mousa, & Rabiu, 2015) and 17.2 % in the eastern province of Saudi Arabia (Al-Baghli et al, 2010). Obviously, our current results are in consistent with different reports from the country, indicating that the rates of diabetes are continuously increasing and representing potential health burdens.…”

Diffusion-weighted imaging of injuries to the visual centers of the brain in patients with type 2 diabetes and retinopathy

“…DR is a leading cause of blindness and visual impairment in patients with diabetes and is correlated with functional brain injuries (13). DWI is able to effectively provide information on pathological changes in the brain, including information on the diffusion rate of water molecules in tissues, transport of intracellular and extracellular water molecules, and microscopic and geometric structures of tissues, thus it offers an important basis for early diagnosis of diabetic encephalopathy (14).…”