11 Permission to use the KAP-45 questionnaire was granted after communication with its main authors. The Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice −45 points (KAP-45) questionnaire was formulated by Srinivasan et al. The demographic variables included in the study were: gender, age, marital status, educational level, and monthly income. 11 Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices (KAP) of diabetics towards diabetes and diabetic retinopathy in Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia. In addition, patients with a lack of awareness showed poorer control of DR risk factors. 9 Patients with higher-than-average knowledge of the condition were found to have a positive attitude and a good practice pattern, which gave them the advantage of earlier presentation in their course of illness. 10Īwareness and proper knowledge of this highly prevalent disease is crucial to enhance early detection and proper intervention. 9 Therefore, early detection and treatment are vital to prevent visual loss. 9 Almost all patients are asymptomatic in the early stages of DR, but RCTs found that early screening and intervention could prevent visual loss in patients with DR by 57%. Nevertheless, sudden tight control of blood sugar after a long period of poor control, might initially worsen the retinopathy. Tight control of the blood sugar is highly effective in delaying the onset of and preventing the progression of DR. 7, 8 Studies found that high blood sugar, long duration of DM, and associated high blood pressure are major risk factors for the development of DR. A prevalence of 36% was reported in Al-Medina city, and 33% in Al Ahsa region of Saudi Arabia. 5 Nevertheless, the condition is responsible for 4.8% of blindness worldwide. Studies estimate that 2% of diabetic patients will go blind within 15 years of diagnosis. 4 It is a silent, progressive disease that can lead to irreversible blindness. 3 This number is expected to increase further in the upcoming years.ĭiabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of many devastating ischemic complications of DM.
2 Alnozha et al reported that DM prevalence in Saudi Arabia was 23.7% in 2011, the second highest among Middle Eastern countries and the seventh highest worldwide according to the WHO ranking. 1 This number is expected to rise to 592 million by 2035. In 2014, the WHO estimated that globally, 422 million people were affected by DM. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease related to insulin and is one of the most significant worldwide health problems.
0 kommentar(er)
