Population-based study of diabetic retinopathy in Wolfsburg

Introduction. Since November 1997 the complete documentation of an ophthalm ological examination of diabetics has been annually subsidised by the Volks wagen Corporation Health Maintenance Organization (VW-HMO). Methods. The results of an annual ophthalmological examination were recorde d in a standardised history sheet developed by the Initiative Group for Ear ly Detection of Diabetic Eye Diseases. These data included visual acuity, i ntraocular pressure, lens status and a description of fungus abnormalities. Results. Within 26 months ophthalmological examinations of 2,801 patients w ere completed which represented 4.5% of all VW-HMO insured patients. On ave rage, patients suffered from diabetes for 9.6 years (SD +/-8.3), artificial intraocular lenses were present in 357 eyes (6.4%) and 1,216 eyes (12.0%) were diagnosed with cataract or posterior capsule opacification impairing v isual acuity. Out of 263 patients younger than 40 years old, 18.8% had a mi ld or moderate and 3.3% a severe non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NP DR). A proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) was found in 2.2% of the yo unger patients. Of 2,228 patients aged 40 years and older, 11.9% had a mild or moderate and 2.6% a severe NPDR. In 0.9% of this group PDR was diagnose d. Conclusions. An annual ophthalmological screening based on a survey sheet o f the Initiative Group was successfully introduced. For the first time a po pulation-based evaluation on the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was car ried out for inhabitants of a German city. The prevalence of PDR was found to be lower than previously published in comparable studies.