Awareness of Diabetes and Risk Factors for Diabetic Retinopathy Among Patients Attending the Eye Outpatient Department of a Tertiary Care Centre in Northeast India

Introduction Over half a billion individuals worldwide suffer from diabetes mellitus (DM). Among people of working age, diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the leading cause of blindness and one of the most prevalent side effects of DM. DR screening and care in this part of the country are severely hampered by a lack of awareness of the consequences of diabetes and by infrequent screening, especially among individuals with diagnosed diabetes. The present study aims to assess the awareness of DM and its risk factors for DR and to identify the associated factors among patients attending the eye outpatient department (OPD) of a tertiary care centre in northeast India. Method The present hospital-based cross-sectional study included 1757 patients aged 23 years or older with or without DM and DR who visited the eye OPD at a tertiary care centre in Northeast India. A structured questionnaire was used to collect the data. The collected data were analysed by age group and diabetes mellitus status. A z-test for two proportions and a chi-square test were used to determine whether there was a significant difference or association between variables. A p-value <0.05 was considered significant, while a p-value <0.01 was considered highly significant. Results The participants' ages ranged from 23 to 94 years, with a male:female ratio of 1.35:1, among whom 44.2% (n=777) were diabetic. The most frequently stated risk factors among people with diabetes were physical inactivity (83.7%, n=650), family history of diabetes (77.5%, n=602) and being overweight (71.4%, n=555). A considerably greater percentage of people with diabetes (n=724, 93.2%) recognised blurred vision as a symptom of DM than non-diabetics. The younger age group (those under 55) was more knowledgeable about most DM risk factors and symptoms. Over 90% of people with diabetes (n=710) were aware of blood tests for diabetes monitoring, but only 45% (n=350) knew the normal range of postprandial blood sugar (PPBS) levels. Both diabetics and non-diabetics have relatively low awareness of the typical ranges of fasting blood sugar (FBS) and HbA1c. There was no discernible variation in the age groups' awareness of the different aspects of diabetes monitoring. There was a significant correlation found between the patients' age, DM status, religion, place of residence, family type, marital status, and socio-economic status with awareness of DM and DR. Conclusion Most participants had moderate to high knowledge of DM and its risk factors for DR. People who had previously had DM were significantly more knowledgeable about the disease's signs and risk factors. However, both diabetics and non-diabetics were less aware of the lifestyle risk factors for DM. Various socio-demographic factors influence patients' awareness of DM and DR. The participants' awareness levels vary by age and diabetes mellitus status.