Factors Associated with Adherence to Screening Guidelines for Diabetic Retinopathy Among Low-Income Metropolitan Patients

Mo Med. 2020 May-Jun;117(3):258-264.

Abstract

In this retrospective analysis of patients with diabetes in an academic primary care clinic in St. Louis, attendance at ophthalmic screening appointments was recorded over a two-year observation window. Factors associated with adherence were analyzed by multivariable regression. Among 974 total patients included, only 330 (33.9%) were adherent within a two-year period. Multivariate analyses identified older age, female gender, primary language other than English, and attendance at ancillary diabetes clinic visits as factors associated with improved diabetic retinopathy screening adherence. Factors not associated with adherence included race and insurance status.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Diabetes Mellitus / psychology
  • Diabetes Mellitus / therapy
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / psychology
  • Diabetic Retinopathy / therapy*
  • Female
  • Guidelines as Topic
  • Humans
  • Logistic Models
  • Male
  • Mass Screening / methods
  • Mass Screening / standards*
  • Mass Screening / statistics & numerical data
  • Middle Aged
  • Patient Compliance
  • Poverty / psychology
  • Poverty / statistics & numerical data
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Treatment Adherence and Compliance / psychology*
  • Treatment Adherence and Compliance / statistics & numerical data
  • Urban Population / statistics & numerical data