Diabetic Retinopathy among Diabetic Patients at a Tertiary Care Hospital: A Descriptive Cross-sectional Study

INTRODUCTION: The alarming rise in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus is a global public health and economic problem. Diabetic retinopathy is the most common ocular morbidity in the diabetic population and is the leading cause of blindness among the working-age group. This study was aimed to find out the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in diabetic patients attending to the department of ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted in the Department of Ophthalmology of a tertiary care hospital from 15(th) August to 30(th) November 2021. Ethical clearance was taken from the Institutional Review Committee (Reference number: CMC-IRC/078/079-021). Convenience sampling was done. Basic demographic data, risk factors, clinical characteristics, and prevalence of diabetic retinopathy were noted. Data entry was done using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences version 26.0. Point estimate at 95% Confidence Interval was calculated along with frequency and percentage for binary data. RESULTS: Among 540 participants, 146 (27.04%) (23.29-30.79 at 95% Confidence Interval) study subjects had diabetic retinopathy changes in at least one eye. Smoking in 88 (60.27%), type 2 diabetes mellitus in 139 (95.21%), hypertension in 85 (58.22%), raised glycated hemoglobin levels in 120 (82.19%) were the major factors observed in the study subjects. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was higher in our study when compared to national studies.