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Socioeconomic Cost of Diabetic Retinopathy and Therapy

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Diabetic Retinopathy

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) significantly impacts quality of life [8, 16, 48] with affected patients unable to manage their diabetes as well when they are visually impaired [6]. Vision impairment compromises quality of life by limiting physical activity, promoting social isolation, and causing dependence on others for the performance of many of life’s necessary functions [43]. Patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) also have higher rates of healthcare utilization (doctors’ visits, hospitalizations, diagnostic testing, treatments, and medications) compared to diabetic patients without diabetic retinopathy [20, 26, 44]. A US health quality study reported that diabetes is associated with a utility of 0.53, whereas blindness has a utility of only 0.38, with only major stroke (0.31) and end-stage renal disease (0.35) ranking lower [19]. By identifying patients with diabetic retinopathy (DR), physicians are frequently able to stabilize and improve vision, thereby improving the quality of patients’ lives. Improvement in visual acuity often enables patients to resume driving and obtain gainful employment.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida, USA

    Michael W. Stewart MD

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Stewart, M.W. (2017). Socioeconomic Cost of Diabetic Retinopathy and Therapy. In: Diabetic Retinopathy. Adis, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3509-8_10

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-10-3509-8_10

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