Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent and one of the most severe complications of both types of diabetes. Despite the development of versatile diabetes management programs in most developed countries, many patients remain at increased risk for developing this life-limiting and life-threaten...

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Main Authors: Siddarth Agrawal, Bartłomiej Strzelec, Rafał Poręba, Anil Agrawal, Grzegorz Mazur
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2021-01-01
Series:Journal of Clinical Medicine
Subjects:
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/2/249
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author Siddarth Agrawal
Bartłomiej Strzelec
Rafał Poręba
Anil Agrawal
Grzegorz Mazur
author_facet Siddarth Agrawal
Bartłomiej Strzelec
Rafał Poręba
Anil Agrawal
Grzegorz Mazur
author_sort Siddarth Agrawal
collection DOAJ
description Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent and one of the most severe complications of both types of diabetes. Despite the development of versatile diabetes management programs in most developed countries, many patients remain at increased risk for developing this life-limiting and life-threatening condition. This cross-sectional analysis objective was to examine and compare the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and comorbidities, as well as the clinical characteristics, prevention patterns, and attitude to telemedicine in patients with diabetes. We found that, when compared to the non-DR group, patients with DR significantly more often utilize clinical preventive services and counseling; however, there is still a significant gap in the receipt of preventative care. Moreover, in the DR subgroup, inadequate diabetic control and the presence of various signs and symptoms of diseases were observed. Although less than a fifth of all patients use mobile applications to monitor their health status, the patients indicate their willingness to use telemedical technology, particularly if it is recommended by the physician and provided without additional costs. The evolution of telemedicine offers a possibility of inexpensive, continuous monitoring of the disease that could improve treatment outcomes. Our observations emphasize DR’s perception as a complex disease in which education and continuous monitoring, particularly with telemedicine methods, are critical for further improvement in chronic care.
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spelling doaj.art-283093bc299640cb9e9208b998c686542023-12-03T12:53:03ZengMDPI AGJournal of Clinical Medicine2077-03832021-01-0110224910.3390/jcm10020249Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional StudySiddarth Agrawal0Bartłomiej Strzelec1Rafał Poręba2Anil Agrawal3Grzegorz Mazur4Department and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, PolandSecond Department and Clinic of General and Oncological Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, PolandDepartment and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, PolandSecond Department and Clinic of General and Oncological Surgery, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, PolandDepartment and Clinic of Internal Medicine, Occupational Diseases, Hypertension and Clinical Oncology, Wroclaw Medical University, 50-556 Wrocław, PolandDiabetic retinopathy (DR) is the most frequent and one of the most severe complications of both types of diabetes. Despite the development of versatile diabetes management programs in most developed countries, many patients remain at increased risk for developing this life-limiting and life-threatening condition. This cross-sectional analysis objective was to examine and compare the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy and comorbidities, as well as the clinical characteristics, prevention patterns, and attitude to telemedicine in patients with diabetes. We found that, when compared to the non-DR group, patients with DR significantly more often utilize clinical preventive services and counseling; however, there is still a significant gap in the receipt of preventative care. Moreover, in the DR subgroup, inadequate diabetic control and the presence of various signs and symptoms of diseases were observed. Although less than a fifth of all patients use mobile applications to monitor their health status, the patients indicate their willingness to use telemedical technology, particularly if it is recommended by the physician and provided without additional costs. The evolution of telemedicine offers a possibility of inexpensive, continuous monitoring of the disease that could improve treatment outcomes. Our observations emphasize DR’s perception as a complex disease in which education and continuous monitoring, particularly with telemedicine methods, are critical for further improvement in chronic care.https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/2/249telemedicinediabetic retinopathypreventive medicinecross-sectional study
spellingShingle Siddarth Agrawal
Bartłomiej Strzelec
Rafał Poręba
Anil Agrawal
Grzegorz Mazur
Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study
Journal of Clinical Medicine
telemedicine
diabetic retinopathy
preventive medicine
cross-sectional study
title Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_fullStr Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_full_unstemmed Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_short Clinical Characteristics, Preventive Care and Attitude to Telemedicine among Patients with Diabetic Retinopathy: A Cross-Sectional Study
title_sort clinical characteristics preventive care and attitude to telemedicine among patients with diabetic retinopathy a cross sectional study
topic telemedicine
diabetic retinopathy
preventive medicine
cross-sectional study
url https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/10/2/249
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