A simple score-based strategy to improve equity of the UK biennial diabetic eye screening protocol among people deemed as low risk
Authors' conclusion
A simple, clinically deliverable, personalised protocol for identifying who should be screened annually or biennially for diabetic eye disease would improve equity in risk of delayed STDR diagnosis per appointment.
Study context
- Population
- People without DR on two consecutive screening visits (low risk), North East London Diabetic Eye Screening Programme, January 2012–September 2023
- Participants
- 105,083 people
- Exposure
- Simplified score-based screening protocol vs biennial screening
- Outcome
- Delayed STDR diagnoses
Methodological detailslinked electronic health records (EHR) data, logistic regression, simplified points model, external validation (South East London DESP)
- Linked EHR data
- Logistic regression
- Simplified points model
- External validation (South East London DESP)
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Reduction in annual screening appointments
Incident sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy (STDR) among low-risk participants · mean 5.0 years (SD 3.4 years)
- Incident STDR cases
- 3694
STDR risk by subgroup under biennial screening
- Almost all groups had significantly higher STDR risk vs people aged ≥41 years, white ethnicity, diabetes <10 years
Original publication
A simple score-based strategy to improve equity of the UK biennial diabetic eye screening protocol among people deemed as low risk. Diabetologia. Published 12 March 2025. doi:10.
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