Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy and Its Associated Factors Among Diabetic Patients at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, North-west Ethiopia, 2019.

Abstract Background Diabetic retinopathy is a well-known sight–threatening microvascular complication of diabetes mellitus. Currently 93 million people live with diabetic retinopathy worldwide. There are insufficient studies addressing on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and underlying risk factors in Ethiopia. Objective To assess prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and its associated factors among diabetic patients on follow up at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, North-West Ethiopia, 2019. Methods Institutional based cross-sectional study was conducted among 302 participants at Debre Markos Referral Hospital. They were selected through systematic sampling technique and those with mature cataract and critically ill were excluded. The necessary data were extracted from medical records by using pre-tested checklist. Blood pressure, weight, height and visual acuity tests were assessed. Retinal examination was performed through slit lamp biomicroscope and binocular indirect ophthalmoscope. Data were entered to epi-data 3.1 version. The data were exported into Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS version 20) program for analyses. Binary logistic regression with 95%CI was used for analyses. A variable had p-value < 0.25 in the bivariable logistic regression was entered to multivariate logistic regression. Finally, variables with p-value < 0.05 in the multivariable logistic regression were considered as statistically significant. Result There were 302 participants included in this study, out of which 57(18.9%) had diabetic retinopathy. Among DR patients, three-fourth (75.4%) had pre-proliferative type of diabetic retinopathy. Four in ten (37.7%) of diabetic patients had visual acuity problem. Poor glycaemic control (AOR(95% CI: 4.58(1.86,11.31), having more than 10 years diabetic duration (AOR(95% CI: 3.91(1.86,8.23), body mass index > 25 kg/m2(AOR(95% CI: 3.74(1.83,7.66), and hypertension (AOR(95% CI: 3.39(1.64,7.02) were significantly associated factors with diabetic retinopathy. Conclusion About one fifth of DM patients had diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with glycaemic control, hypertension, body mass index and duration of illness. Routine assessment and early control of those associated factors may be important to reduce both the prevalence and impact of diabetic retinopathy as evidenced in the current study.