Abstract:AIM: To assess the frequency and associated risk factors of diabetic retinopathy among Sudanese individuals with diabetes attending Makka Eye complex in Khartoum, Sudan. METHODS: The cross sectional hospital based study recruited 316 individuals with diabetes from Makkah Eye Complex Retina Clinic. Standard questionnaire was used to collect demographic data, medical history and life style characteristics. Blood samples were taken to measure HbA1c and lipid profile. Fundus and slit lamp examination were performed for screening of diabetic retinopathy. RESULTS: Among 316 participants, 187 (59.2%) were males and 129 (40.8%) were females. The mean age of participants was 58.7±10.5y. The overall frequency of retinopathy was 261 (82.6%). The percentages of the total participants with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) were 126 (39.9%) and non-proliferative diabetic retinopathy (NPDR) were 135 (42.7%). Importantly, duration of diabetes mellitus (DM) (72.2% of more than 10y), being on oral hypoglycaemic drugs (versus insulin), and hypertension were all significant risk factors for diabetic retinopathy (P=0.00, 0.01 and 0.00 respectively). Complications of diabetes like diabetic foot (17.7%), history of amputation (6.7%) and clinically significant macular edema (CSME) (47.4%) of the eyes were all significant risk factors (P<0.05). Logistic regression analysis showed that duration of diabetes, hypertension and CSME were found to be absolute risk factors (P=0.007, 0.003 and 0.000 respectively). Duration of DM of more than 10y have more than double risk (OR=2.8), while having hypertension triples the risk of retinopathy (OR=3.1). CONCLUSION: High rates of diabetic retinopathy are noted among individuals with diabetes attending Makkah Eye hospital in capital Khartoum. Urgent strategies are needed to monitor and treat hypertension and optimize diabetes control in individuals with diabetes. More investment in diabetes services is urgently needed.
