Awareness of diabetic retinopathy among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus in Jordan

Figures & data

Table 1 Questions related to awareness of DR related to DM

1. Are you aware that DM can affect the retina of the eye? Yes/No

2. Are you aware that DR can lead to blindness? Yes/No

3. Do you think that blood sugar control may reduce the risk of DR? Yes/No

4. Do you think that routine eye check-ups are necessary during DM? Yes/No

5. How frequently do you think you should undergo an eye check-up?

Every 6 months/yearly/2 yearly/only when vision is affected

6. Do you know that laser treatment for DR does not improve vision but reduce further deterioration in vision? Yes/No

7. What are your sources of information about DM and DR?

The Internet, magazines/doctor/friends and relatives/or I do not get any information

Abbreviations: DM, diabetes mellitus; DR, diabetic retinopathy.

Table 2 Demographic characteristics of study population (N=237)

Variable
Age, years (mean±SD)	54.51±10.283
Gender
Female, n (%)	107 (45.1)
Male, n (%)	130 (54.9)
Education, n (%)
None	28 (11.8)
Elementary school	46 (19.4)
High school	83 (35.0)
Higher education	80 (33.8)
Duration of DM, n (%)
≤5 years	102 (43)
6–10 years	78 (32.9)
≥11 years	57 (24.1)
Family history of DM, n (%)
Yes	174 (73.4)
No	63 (26.6)
Blood glucose control, n (%)
Yes (good)	188 (79.3)
No (bad)	49 (20.7)
Source of information about DM, n (%)
Doctor	112 (47.3)
Relatives/friends	76 (32)
Mass media	35 (14.8)
Not received any information	14 (5.9)
Referral to eye doctor, n (%)
General practitioner	141(59.5)
Patient himself	91(38.4)
Have no referral yet	5 (2.1)
If vision is affected by DM
Yes	134 (56.5)
No	103 (43.5)

Abbreviation: DM, diabetes mellitus.

Figure 1 Percentages of patients who answered different awareness questions related to DR.

Abbreviations: DM, diabetes mellitus; DR, diabetic retinopathy.

Table 3 Univariate analysis for association between awareness of DR and selected variables

Variable	Aware, n (%)	OR (95% CI)	p-value
Gender
Male	114 (87.7)	0.9	0.795
Female	95 (88.8)	(0.406–1.996)
Education
None	20 (70.4)	4.86	0.003*
Elementary school	40 (86.7)	(1.421–16.633)
High school	72 (86.7)
More than high school	77 (96.2)
Duration of DM
≤5 years	90 (88.2)	0.766	0.792
6–10 years	70 (89.7)	(0.318–1.846)
≥11 years	49 (87.5)
Family history of DM
Yes	156 (89.7)	1.625	0.25
No	53 (84.1)	(0.706–3.739)
Blood glucose control
Good	165 (87.2)	0.607	0.374
Bad	45 (91)	(0.2–1.841)

Note:

* Statistical significance based on non-overlapping 95% confidence intervals.

Abbreviations: DM, diabetes mellitus; DR, diabetic retinopathy; OR, odds ratio.

Table 4 Compliance behaviors with available DM and DR management among patients

Compliance behaviors	Aware, n (%)	Not-aware, n (%)	n (%)	p-value
Adherence to current DM treatment
Yes	181 (86.6)	27 (96.4)	208 (87.8)	0.217
No	28 (13.4)	1 (3.6)	29 (12.2)
Measuring blood sugar at home
Yes	146 (69.9)	19 (67.9)	165 (69.6)	0.892
No	63 (30.1)	9 (32.1)	72 (30.4)
Frequency of measuring blood sugar at home
Every month	26 (12.4)	3 (10.7)	29 (12.2)	0.676
Every week	40 (19.1)	7 (25)	47 (19.8)
Everyday	29 (13.9)	5 (17.9)	34 (14.3)
Once I feel unwell	55 (26.3)	4 (14.3)	59 (24.9)
Never	59 (28.2)	9 (32.1)	68 (28.7)
Last vision exam
During the last 6 months	76 (36.4)	13 (46.4)	89 (37.6)	0.586
During the last year	63 (30.1)	7 (25)	70 (29.5)
Never	70 (33.5)	8 (28.6)	78 (32.9)

Abbreviations: DM, diabetes mellitus; DR, diabetic retinopathy.

Figure 2 Patients’ related barriers for early retinal assessment.

Abbreviation: DR, diabetic retinopathy.