Geographical Nationwide Mapping of Diabetic Retinopathy Using Teleretinal Screening

Abstract

Purpose : This study examines how data from teleretinal screening cameras may geographically map the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) across the country.

Methods : Retrospective review of retinal images taken in primary care physician’s (PCP) offices and uploaded to the cloud-based Intelligent Retinal Imaging System at 298 locations over 33 states. Patient data was accessed from IRIS from June 2013 to November 2017. The total number of patients screened, presence of diabetic retinopathy, the severity of DR and presence of diabetic macular edema (DME) was recorded. Prevalence rates of DR and DME were calculated for each state. By using the zip code of the camera location, rates of DR were mapped within each state and nationally.

Results : A total of 230,012 patients were screened for DR. National prevalence of DR was 26.9% (61950/230,012). Of those, 224,942 patients were screened for DME as well. National prevalence of DME was 5.7% (12,863/224,942). Number of exams performed and prevalence rates of DR and DME for each state are shown in Figure 1. A nationwide map showing rates of DR are shown in Figure 2. States with the highest prevalence of DR are MS, RI, TN, SC and TX.

Conclusions : By aggregating data from teleretinal cameras across multiple geographical locations, there is the potential to compare differing rates of diabetic retinopathy across different parts of the country. Currently, wide variability exists in the number of images take within each state and is likely related to the number and amount of time cameras have been in use. It is possible that a wider network of cameras across differing populations may result in more accurate assessment of DR and DME prevalence at the county, state, and national level.

This is an abstract that was submitted for the 2018 ARVO Annual Meeting, held in Honolulu, Hawaii, April 29 - May 3, 2018.

 

Prevalence rates of diabetic retinopathy and diabetic macular edema rates by state

 

Nationwide map showing diabetic retinopathy rates of the 33 states where teleretinal screening cameras within the Intelligent Retinal Imaging Systems network from 2013 – 2017.