Effect of the COVID‐19 pandemic on diabetic retinopathy and referral levels in the English National Health Service Diabetic Eye Screening Programme
Authors' conclusion
The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with small increases in referable retinopathy rates from 3.1% to 3.2%, non-referable DR from 24.6% to 24.8% and an increase in the ungradable image rate from 2.6% to 3.1%, the latter increase possibly being caused by untreated cataract during the pandemic. Risk stratification of invitations in the recovery period was believed to have contributed to keeping the referable rates low and supports a similar approach in extension of the screening interval for low-risk groups.
Study context
- Population
- People screened in the English National Health Service (NHS) Diabetic Eye Screening Programme (DESP), 57 regional centres
- Exposure
- 2021-2022 vs 2019-2020
- 2021-2022n = 2,199,623 grades
- 2019-2020n = 2,274,635 gradesreference
- Outcome
- Proportion of eyes with referable DR
Methodological detailsnational screening programme data, 57 regional centres, before–after comparison
- National screening programme data
- 57 regional centres
- Before–after comparison
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
P < 0.01
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Non-referable DR (proportion of eyes) · small increase
P < 0.01
Median
| Outcome | 2021-2022 | 2019-2020 |
|---|---|---|
| Ungradable eyes (proportion) | 3.1% (IQR 2.5%–3.7%) | 2.6% (IQR 2.3%–3.3%) |
Proportion with T1D receiving eye screening (National Diabetes Audit (NDA) data)
- Proportion with T1D receiving eye screening was higher in the latter year
Original publication
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