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. 2012 May;26(5):671-7.
doi: 10.1038/eye.2012.3. Epub 2012 Feb 3.

Diabetic retinopathy equity profile in a multi-ethnic, deprived population in Northern England

M Kliner  1 , G Fell, C Gibbons, M Dhothar, M Mookhtiar, A Cassels-Brown
Affiliations

Diabetic retinopathy equity profile in a multi-ethnic, deprived population in Northern England

M Kliner et al. Eye (Lond). 2012 May.

Abstract

Purpose: Equity profiles are an established public health tool used to systematically identify and address inequity within health and health services. Our aim was to conduct an equity profile to identify inequity in eye health across Leeds and Bradford. This paper presents results of findings for diabetic retinopathy in Bradford and Airedale.

Methods: A variety of routine health data were included and sub-analysed by measures of equity, including age, sex, ethnicity, and deprivation to identify inequity in eye health and healthcare. The Spearman Rank Correlation Coefficient was used to determine the association between variables.

Results: The prevalence of diagnosed diabetes in Bradford and Airedale district is 6.6% compared to 4.3% in nearby Leeds and 5.1% nationally. The age-standardised prevalence of diagnosed diabetic retinopathy within Bradford and Airedale is 2.21% (95% CI 1.54-2.26%), with a disproportionately high prevalence of disease in the Pakistani population and the most deprived parts of the population. There was a poorer uptake of diabetic retinopathy screening in more deprived parts of the district and the proportions with a higher rate of referral to ophthalmology following the screening in Black and Minority Ethnic populations compared with the white population (13.2% vs 6.9%). Uptake of secondary care outpatient appointments is much lower in more deprived populations.

Conclusion: Inequalities are inherent in diabetic retinopathy prevalence, diagnosis, and treatment. The reasons for these inequities are multi-factorial and further investigation of reasons for poor uptake of services is required. Addressing the inequalities in eye health and healthcare requires cross-organisational collaboration.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Age-standardised practice prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in Bradford and Airedale mapped onto deprivation (by LSOAs).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Rate of not-screened individuals by postcode as a percentage of those on the DRS register in 2010.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Rate of outpatient ophthalmology consultations by deprivation quintiles (based on patient postcodes) for Bradford and Airedale in 2009.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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