scholarly journals Engagement with Diabetes Retinal Screening: An analysis of secondary data from the Pacific Eye Institute in Suva

2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (8) ◽  
pp. 485-495
Author(s):  
Joshua Cronin-Lampe ◽  
Alana Cavadino ◽  
Harris Ansari ◽  
Faufiva Fa'alau ◽  
Judith Mccool
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Clinic Visit ◽  
Data Systems ◽  
Microvascular Damage ◽  
Eye Health ◽  
The Pacific

Abstract Objectives: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the primary causes of preventable vision loss and blindness. Diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) is essential to detect microvascular damage to the retina; it can be performed in primary care or specialist eye health clinics. The system of referral, screening, and treatment relies on an organized primary care referral pathway, accessible services, and at least a basic level of health literacy among those living with or under threat of developing Diabetes Mellitus (DM).   Methods: Routinely collected patient data from the Pacific Eye Institute (PEI) in Fiji was analyzed to describe a) clinical and demographic DR patient characteristics and b) characteristics of patients demonstrating higher clinic engagement (using multiple logistic regression).   Results: Of 9287 patients who first attended the PEI for DRS between 2012 and 2017, 22% presented with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) in at least one eye. The average duration of DM was 3 years; self-reported glycaemic control was poor. Indo-Fijian or other ethnicity (both vs iTaukei, OR=2.30, 95%CI 1.96-2.70 and OR=2.18, 95% CI 1.63-2.92, respectively; p<0.001), high blood sugar (OR 1.39, 95%CI 1.10-1.75, p=0.006), longer duration of disease (OR=1.21, 95%CI 1.02-1.43, p=0.027), peripheral neuropathy (OR=1.43, 95%CI 1.24-1.65, p<0.001) and STDR (OR=3.30, 95%CI 2.78-3.92, p<0.001) were associated with greater odds of higher clinic engagement. Male gender (Odds Ratio (OR)=0.83, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 0.72-0.95, p=0.006), younger or older age (both vs 40-70 years; <40 years, OR=0.48, 95%CI 0.37-0.63, ?70 years OR=0.61, 95%CI 0.48-0.76, p<0.001), year of first clinic visit (2013 vs 2012 OR=0.58, 95%CI 0.50-0.69, p<0.001; 2014 vs 2012 OR=0.36, 95%CI 0.30-0.43, p<0.001) and moderate visual impairment (OR=0.67 95%CI 0.56-0.80, p<0.001) were associated with lower odds of high clinic engagement.   Conclusion: Our results identify patient groups that may be more vulnerable to lower engagement with eye health services. Increasing engagement may help reduce delays in screening and treatment. Given the projected continued rise in DM in the Pacific region, investing in robust electronic data systems that collect and connect public health and clinical data is imperative. Health literacy is important for the prevention of DM, timely DM diagnosis, and screening for complications such as DR.

Improving Access to Diabetic Retinopathy Screening through Telemedicine (Preprint)

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shuja Rayaz ◽  
Tiffany Wandy ◽  
Jenna Brager ◽  
Michael Kiritsy ◽  
Daniel Durand
Keyword(s):  
Primary Care ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Care Setting ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Primary Care Setting ◽  
Adult Population ◽  
Descriptive Study ◽  
Pilot Program ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy Screening ◽  
Retinopathy Screening

BACKGROUND Screening for diabetic retinopathy is important for the prevention of blindness among the adult population. Currently, patients with diabetes require a referral from their primary care physician to see an ophthalmologist for their annual eye exam, which can be an added inconvenience. As such, there is a need for alternative screening strategies within an outpatient network. The use of a telemedicine platform in a primary care network serves as a novel strategy to increase diabetic retinopathy screening rates. LifeBridge Health operates two Track 1 Accountable Care Organizations with a combined attribution of approximately 28,000 patients. Many value-based care and pay for performance programs use diabetic retinopathy screening rate as a quality measure. In order to provide better access to diabetic retinopathy screening for our patients, three specialized cameras were placed in three primary care practices in October 2017 as part of a pilot program. The online Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems (IRIS) platform was utilized as a secure data warehouse of images that could be interpreted remotely by an ophthalmologist within the LifeBridge Health network for the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy or detecting other types of pathology (e.g. macular edema). OBJECTIVE The aim of this retrospective descriptive study was to examine if a telemedicine platform can be used to increase diabetic retinopathy screening rates in the primary care setting. METHODS Three distinct datasets corresponding with three time periods were examined for this study. Pre-post comparison examined screening rates from all practices from January 2018 – December 2018 to those of January 2017 – December 2017. The pilot program dataset examined screening rates in the practices before and after the implementation of the IRIS cameras in October 2017. Aggregate diagnostic data from the IRIS online dashboard from October 2017- December 2019 was also examined to determine the benefit of the IRIS platform since the initial implementation. RESULTS Pre-post comparison screening rates showed mean screening rates of 38.5% and 47.2%, respectively, indicating an 8.7% improvement in screening. The pilot program showed improved screening rates at each outpatient practice with the implementation of the IRIS cameras. Aggregate data since the implementation of the IRIS cameras showed that, of the 1213 patients who were screened, approximately 17.1% (n=207 patients) were diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy and an additional17.7% (n=215 patients) were suspected of having some form of other pathology. 10.1% (n=123 patients) were also suspected to be at risk for imminent vision loss. CONCLUSIONS This retrospective descriptive study suggests that a telemedicine platform can be used to improve diabetic retinopathy screening rates in the primary care setting within a large healthcare system.

602-P: Explaining an Artificial Intelligence (AI) System for Diabetic Retinopathy (DR) Screening in Primary Care

Diabetes ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 68 (Supplement 1) ◽  
pp. 602-P
Author(s):  
NISHIT UMESH PAREKH ◽  
MALAVIKA BHASKARANAND ◽  
CHAITHANYA RAMACHANDRA ◽  
SANDEEP BHAT ◽  
KAUSHAL SOLANKI
Keyword(s):  
Artificial Intelligence ◽  
Primary Care ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy

scholarly journals In-depth transcriptomic analysis of human retina reveals molecular mechanisms underlying diabetic retinopathy

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Kolja Becker ◽  
Holger Klein ◽  
Eric Simon ◽  
Coralie Viollet ◽  
Christian Haslinger ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Rna Sequencing ◽  
Molecular Mechanisms ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Ganglion Cells ◽  
Expression Profiles ◽  
Cell Types ◽  
Sequencing Data ◽  
Disease Stages ◽  
Post Transcriptional Regulation

AbstractDiabetic Retinopathy (DR) is among the major global causes for vision loss. With the rise in diabetes prevalence, an increase in DR incidence is expected. Current understanding of both the molecular etiology and pathways involved in the initiation and progression of DR is limited. Via RNA-Sequencing, we analyzed mRNA and miRNA expression profiles of 80 human post-mortem retinal samples from 43 patients diagnosed with various stages of DR. We found differentially expressed transcripts to be predominantly associated with late stage DR and pathways such as hippo and gap junction signaling. A multivariate regression model identified transcripts with progressive changes throughout disease stages, which in turn displayed significant overlap with sphingolipid and cGMP–PKG signaling. Combined analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression further uncovered disease-relevant miRNA/mRNA associations as potential mechanisms of post-transcriptional regulation. Finally, integrating human retinal single cell RNA-Sequencing data revealed a continuous loss of retinal ganglion cells, and Müller cell mediated changes in histidine and β-alanine signaling. While previously considered primarily a vascular disease, attention in DR has shifted to additional mechanisms and cell-types. Our findings offer an unprecedented and unbiased insight into molecular pathways and cell-specific changes in the development of DR, and provide potential avenues for future therapeutic intervention.

scholarly journals Visual Cortex Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation for Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy Patients: A Double-Blinded Randomized Exploratory Trial

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (2) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Angelito Braulio F. de Venecia ◽  
Shane M. Fresnoza
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Visual Cortex ◽  
Proliferative Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Direct Current ◽  
Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Sham Stimulation ◽  
Direct Current Stimulation ◽  
Residual Vision ◽  
Cathodal Tdcs

Proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) is a severe complication of diabetes. PDR-related retinal hemorrhages often lead to severe vision loss. The main goals of management are to prevent visual impairment progression and improve residual vision. We explored the potential of transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS) to enhance residual vision. tDCS applied to the primary visual cortex (V1) may improve visual input processing from PDR patients’ retinas. Eleven PDR patients received cathodal tDCS stimulation of V1 (1 mA for 10 min), and another eleven patients received sham stimulation (1 mA for 30 s). Visual acuity (logarithm of the minimum angle of resolution (LogMAR) scores) and number acuity (reaction times (RTs) and accuracy rates (ARs)) were measured before and immediately after stimulation. The LogMAR scores and the RTs of patients who received cathodal tDCS decreased significantly after stimulation. Cathodal tDCS has no significant effect on ARs. There were no significant changes in the LogMAR scores, RTs, and ARs of PDR patients who received sham stimulation. The results are compatible with our proposal that neuronal noise aggravates impaired visual function in PDR. The therapeutic effect indicates the potential of tDCS as a safe and effective vision rehabilitation tool for PDR patients.

scholarly journals Rho-Kinase Inhibitors for the Treatment of Refractory Diabetic Macular Oedema

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1683
Author(s):  
Milagros Mateos-Olivares ◽  
Luis García-Onrubia ◽  
Fco. Javier Valentín-Bravo ◽  
Rogelio González-Sarmiento ◽  
Maribel Lopez-Galvez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Macular Oedema ◽  
Standard Therapy ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Rho Kinase ◽  
Diabetic Macular Oedema ◽  
New Drugs ◽  
Anti Vegf

Diabetic macular oedema (DMO) is one of the leading causes of vision loss associated with diabetic retinopathy (DR). New insights in managing this condition have changed the paradigm in its treatment, with intravitreal injections of antivascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) having become the standard therapy for DMO worldwide. However, there is no single standard therapy for all patients DMO refractory to anti-VEGF treatment; thus, further investigation is still needed. The key obstacles in developing suitable therapeutics for refractory DMO lie in its complex pathophysiology; therefore, there is an opportunity for further improvements in the progress and applications of new drugs. Previous studies have indicated that Rho-associated kinase (Rho-kinase/ROCK) is an essential molecule in the pathogenesis of DMO. This is why the Rho/ROCK signalling pathway has been proposed as a possible target for new treatments. The present review focuses on the recent progress on the possible role of ROCK and its therapeutic potential in DMO. A systematic literature search was performed, covering the years 1991 to 2021, using the following keywords: “rho-Associated Kinas-es”, “Diabetic Retinopathy”, “Macular Edema”, “Ripasudil”, “Fasudil” and “Netarsudil”. Better insight into the pathological role of Rho-kinase/ROCK may lead to the development of new strategies for refractory DMO treatment and prevention.

scholarly journals Plasma microRNA signature associated with retinopathy in patients with type 2 diabetes

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Donato Santovito ◽  
Lisa Toto ◽  
Velia De Nardis ◽  
Pamela Marcantonio ◽  
Rossella D’Aloisio ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Type 2 Diabetes ◽  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
External Validation ◽  
Diabetic Patients ◽  
Disease Biomarkers ◽  
Response To Stress ◽  
Severity Of The Disease ◽  
Plasma Microrna

AbstractDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is a leading cause of vision loss and disability. Effective management of DR depends on prompt treatment and would benefit from biomarkers for screening and pre-symptomatic detection of retinopathy in diabetic patients. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are post-transcriptional regulators of gene expression which are released in the bloodstream and may serve as biomarkers. Little is known on circulating miRNAs in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2DM) and DR. Here we show that DR is associated with higher circulating miR-25-3p (P = 0.004) and miR-320b (P = 0.011) and lower levels of miR-495-3p (P < 0.001) in a cohort of patients with T2DM with DR (n = 20), compared with diabetic subjects without DR (n = 10) and healthy individuals (n = 10). These associations persisted significant after adjustment for age, gender, and HbA1c. The circulating levels of these miRNAs correlated with severity of the disease and their concomitant evaluation showed high accuracy for identifying DR (AUROC = 0.93; P < 0.001). Gene ontology analysis of validated targets revealed enrichment in pathways such as regulation of metabolic process (P = 1.5 × 10–20), of cell response to stress (P = 1.9 × 10–14), and development of blood vessels (P = 2.7 × 10–14). Pending external validation, we anticipate that these miRNAs may serve as putative disease biomarkers and highlight novel molecular targets for improving care of patients with diabetic retinopathy.

scholarly journals Substance Use, General Health and Health Literacy as Predictors of Oral Health in Emerging Adult Sexual Minority Men of Color: A Secondary Data Analysis

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (4) ◽  
pp. 1987
Author(s):  
S. Raquel Ramos ◽  
David T. Lardier ◽  
Rueben C. Warren ◽  
Melba Cherian ◽  
Sarwat Siddiqui ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Data Analysis ◽  
Oral Health ◽  
Health Literacy ◽  
Sexual Minority ◽  
Secondary Data ◽  
Emerging Adult ◽  
Cigarette Use ◽  
Sexual Minority Men ◽  
Men Of Color ◽  
Minority Men

There is limited evidence surrounding oral health in emerging adult, sexual minority men of color. This study examined the association between sociodemographic factors, health literacy, cigarette, e-cigarette, and alcohol use on oral health outcomes. Secondary data analysis was conducted with 322 sexual minority men ages 18–34 in the United States. Between-group, mean-level, and multivariable logistic regression analyses examined differences on oral health outcomes. Increased cigarette (aOR = 1.84, p = 0.03), e-cigarette (aOR = 1.40, p = 0.03), and alcohol use (aOR = 2.07, p = 0.05) were associated with extended time away from the dentist. Health literacy (aOR = 0.93, p = 0.05) was negatively associated. Increased cigarette (aOR = 1.17, p = 0.04) and cigarette use (aOR = 1.26, p = 0.04) were associated with tooth loss. Health literacy was negatively associated (aOR = 0.65, p = 0.03). Increased e-cigarette (aOR = 1.74, p = 0.04) and cigarette use (aOR = 4.37, p < 0.001) were associated with dental affordability issues. Lower health literacy and racial identification as Black were associated with dental affordability issues; demonstrating an urgent need to address these factors to improve oral health in emerging adult sexual minority men of color.

scholarly journals A Systematic Review of Carotenoids in the Management of Diabetic Retinopathy

Nutrients ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (7) ◽  
pp. 2441
Author(s):  
Drake W. Lem ◽  
Dennis L. Gierhart ◽  
Pinakin Gunvant Davey
Keyword(s):  
Diabetic Retinopathy ◽  
Vision Loss ◽  
Therapeutic Potential ◽  
Microvascular Disease ◽  
Age Related Macular Degeneration ◽  
Cell Degeneration ◽  
Neuroprotective Effects ◽  
Age Related ◽  
Induced Changes ◽  
Dietary Carotenoid

Diabetic retinopathy, which was primarily regarded as a microvascular disease, is the leading cause of irreversible blindness worldwide. With obesity at epidemic proportions, diabetes-related ocular problems are exponentially increasing in the developed world. Oxidative stress due to hyperglycemic states and its associated inflammation is one of the pathological mechanisms which leads to depletion of endogenous antioxidants in retina in a diabetic patient. This contributes to a cascade of events that finally leads to retinal neurodegeneration and irreversible vision loss. The xanthophylls lutein and zeaxanthin are known to promote retinal health, improve visual function in retinal diseases such as age-related macular degeneration that has oxidative damage central in its etiopathogenesis. Thus, it can be hypothesized that dietary supplements with xanthophylls that are potent antioxidants may regenerate the compromised antioxidant capacity as a consequence of the diabetic state, therefore ultimately promoting retinal health and visual improvement. We performed a comprehensive literature review of the National Library of Medicine and Web of Science databases, resulting in 341 publications meeting search criteria, of which, 18 were found eligible for inclusion in this review. Lutein and zeaxanthin demonstrated significant protection against capillary cell degeneration and hyperglycemia-induced changes in retinal vasculature. Observational studies indicate that depletion of xanthophyll carotenoids in the macula may represent a novel feature of DR, specifically in patients with type 2 or poorly managed type 1 diabetes. Meanwhile, early interventional trials with dietary carotenoid supplementation show promise in improving their levels in serum and macular pigments concomitant with benefits in visual performance. These findings provide a strong molecular basis and a line of evidence that suggests carotenoid vitamin therapy may offer enhanced neuroprotective effects with therapeutic potential to function as an adjunct nutraceutical strategy for management of diabetic retinopathy.

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