ECEESPE2025 ePoster Presentations Diabetes and Insulin (245 abstracts)
Diabetic retinopathy in hospitalized patients: a multicenter tunisian study
Mohamed Khairi Arous 1 , Houcem Elomma Mrabet 2 , Mouna Mnif 1 , Nada Hassairi 2 , Mariem Ayedi 1 , Fatma Mnif 1 , Zantour Baha 2 , Sfar Mohamed Habib 2 , Alaya Wafa 2 & Nabila Rekik Majdoub 1
1Hedi Chaker University Hospital, Department of Endocrinology, Sfax, Tunisia; 2University Hospital Tahar Sfar, Department of Endocrinology, Mahdia, Tunisia
JOINT469
Introduction: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a major microvascular complication of diabetes and is currently the leading cause of acquired blindness in many countries. In Tunisia, its prevalence remains poorly documented. This study aims to determine the prevalence and profile of DR in hospitalized diabetic patients.
Patients and Methods: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional study between February and March 2024 in three Tunisian university hospitals: Hedi Chaker and Habib Bourguiba University Hospitals in Sfax, and Taher Sfar University Hospital in Mahdia. The study included diabetic patients hospitalized in departments other than endocrinology and ophthalmology. Data collected included the history of DR and the results of any available fundus examinations.
Results: Among the 315 patients included, 65% were men, with a median age of 65 years and a median diabetes duration of 8 years. Most patients (87%) had type 2 diabetes, while 5.4% (n = 17) had newly diagnosed diabetes during hospitalization. DR was present in 26.5% (n = 79) of patients at the time of admission. Notably, 41.9% (n = 125) of previously known diabetic patients without a history of DR had not undergone a fundus examination for more than a year.
Conclusion: The prevalence of DR observed in this study is lower than that reported in other international studies, such as one conducted in the United States, where it reached 44% among hospitalized patients. This discrepancy may be attributed to the lack of systematic screening in our cohort, potentially underestimating the true prevalence. Screening for DR in hospitalized diabetic patients is crucial, regardless of the reason for admission, as acute diabetes complications, such as hypoglycemia, frequently occurring in hospital settings, can exacerbate DR through adrenergic discharge and activation of growth factors. This study emphasizes the urgent need to integrate ophthalmological screening into the care protocols for hospitalized diabetic patients.
Volume 110
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Endocrine Abstracts
ISSN 1470-3947 (print) | ISSN 1479-6848 (online)
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