May 2004
Volume 45, Issue 13
Free
ARVO Annual Meeting Abstract  |   May 2004
Hemoglobin A1c Awareness Among Patients Receiving Eye Care at a Tertiary Ophthalmic Center
Author Affiliations & Notes
  • D.V. Do
    Retinal Vascular Center,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • Q.D. Nguyen
    Vitreoretinal Service,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • N.M. Bressler
    Retinal Vascular Center,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • A.P. Schachat
    Retinal Vascular Center,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • S.D. Solomon
    Retinal Vascular Center,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • M. Melia
    Biostatistics,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • S.B. Bressler
    Retinal Vascular Center,
    Wilmer Eye Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
  • Footnotes
    Commercial Relationships  D.V. Do, None; Q.D. Nguyen, None; N.M. Bressler, None; A.P. Schachat, None; S.D. Solomon, None; M. Melia, None; S.B. Bressler, None.
  • Footnotes
    Support  none
Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science May 2004, Vol.45, 4155. doi:
  • Views
  • Share
  • Tools
    • Alerts
      ×
      This feature is available to authenticated users only.
      Sign In or Create an Account ×
    • Get Citation

      D.V. Do, Q.D. Nguyen, N.M. Bressler, A.P. Schachat, S.D. Solomon, M. Melia, S.B. Bressler; Hemoglobin A1c Awareness Among Patients Receiving Eye Care at a Tertiary Ophthalmic Center . Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2004;45(13):4155.

      Download citation file:


      © ARVO (1962-2015); The Authors (2016-present)

      ×
  • Supplements
Abstract

Abstract: : Purpose: To describe awareness of hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) among patients receiving eye care at a tertiary ophthalmic center for diabetic eye disease. Methods: Prospective, IRB–approved, non–randomized clinical case series of 150 adult patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) seen at the Retinal Vascular Center (RVC) of the Wilmer Eye Institute (Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University) between July and October of 2003. Eligible subjects completed a questionnaire surveying them about HbA1c knowledge. The treating ophthalmologist recorded DR severity at the time of the exam. Results:76 (51%) patients were women, 93 (62%) were white, 48 (32%) were black, and the median age was 64 years. 67 subjects (45%) had DM for > 20 years, 27 (18%) for < 10 years. 122 (81%) had been examined a minimum of 3 times previously at the RVC. 76 (51%) reported they understood what HbA1c testing was, 25 (17%) were not sure if they understood, and 49 (33%) did not understand what this term means. The number of patients understanding HbA1c based on duration of DM were as low as 2 (29%) of 7 with DM < 5 years and as high as 17 (55%) of 31 with DM > 15 years (Cochran–Armitage test, p = 0.23). 76 (51%) patients had proliferative DR (PDR), among whom 33 (43%) understood HbA1c importance. 74 subjects (49%) had non–proliferative DR (NPDR), among whom 43 (58%) understood what HbA1c was. Among all 76 subjects who understood what HbA1c was, only 56 (73%) could self–report their last HbA1c value (mean HbA1c = 7.2, range 5.3 to 14). Conclusions: Approximately half of the diabetic patients surveyed at a tertiary retina center reported understanding the concept of monitoring HgbA1c. Approximately one–third could recall their last HbA1c value. These findings would imply that diabetic persons with retinopathy need more education regarding HbA1c in their disease management if having such knowledge is judged important.

Keywords: diabetic retinopathy • clinical (human) or epidemiologic studies: prevalence/incidence • diabetes 
×
×

This PDF is available to Subscribers Only

Sign in or purchase a subscription to access this content. ×

You must be signed into an individual account to use this feature.

×