DR. HARSH VARDHAN SINGH

DR.DAS SHUBHRA, DR.IVA RANI KALITA, DR. HIMANTO NATH HAZARIKA

Abstract

To describe prevalence & severity of DR among ethnic groups of northeast India & to study associated risk factors.of 7,133 OPD patients (age20-79 yr) were screened for presence of Diabetes. Of which,780 (10.94%) had diabetes, were evaluated for DR, it’s grade & risk factors. DR cases were grouped into ethnicities: Assamese, Bengali, Minor tribes & immigrants. Prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was 30.0%, with VTDR(10%) & DME(4.49%). Prevalence ranges was highest (50% type1DM & 44% type2DM) in the immigrants’ group & lowest (16% type1DM & 22% type2DM) in the tribal groups. Risk factors with significant association were longer duration, old age, family history of diabetes, higher HbA1c, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia & pregnancy.Every third diabetics had DR & VTDR affecting every tenth pt. The wide variation in DR prevalence among ethnic groups can’t be attributed to variation in known measurable risk factors. Thus, signifying the role of ethnicity in occurrence & severity of DR