Effect of COVID-19 Pandemic on Presentation of Patients With Diabetic Retinopathy in a Multitier Ophthalmology Network in India

Examining Global Crises: Extracting Insights From the COVID-19 Pandemic and Natural Disasters to Develop a Robust Emergency Diabetic Retinopathy Strategy for Puerto Rico

In this critical analysis, we investigate the profound impact of natural disasters and pandemics on the care and adherence to treating diabetic retinopathy, a severe complication of diabetes requiring continuous monitoring and treatment to prevent vision loss. Our study also sheds light on the social and economic context of Puerto Rico, emphasizing recent emergency events that have exacerbated existing public health challenges. Through a comprehensive review of relevant literature from PubMed, Google Scholar, and the George Washington University Himmelfarb Health Sciences Library database, we identified 31 pertinent articles out of 45 evaluated, focusing on the effects of these crises on healthcare delivery, diabetic retinopathy screening, and treatment. The evidence strongly indicates that during such emergencies, barriers to healthcare escalate, leading to significant treatment delays and a reduction in diabetic retinopathy screening and diagnosis, ultimately resulting in deteriorated visual outcomes. Thus, our review underscores the urgent need for the development of effective emergency plans tailored specifically to diabetic retinopathy, particularly in Puerto Rico, where diabetes prevalence and its complications are notably higher. Such plans should not only incorporate established emergency measures but also harness emerging technological advances in the field of ophthalmology to ensure optimal preparedness for future pandemics and natural disasters.

Year One of COVID-19 Pandemic: Effect on Presentation of Patients With Glaucoma in a Multi-Tier Ophthalmology Network in India

Objective

To describe the demographics and clinical profile of patients with glaucoma presenting during the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) lockdown and unlock phases in India.

Methods

This retrospective hospital-based comparative study included patients presenting between March 25, 2017, and March 31, 2021. All patients who presented with glaucoma disorders were included as cases. The demographic and clinical data of these glaucoma patients were collected using an electronic medical record system.

Results

Overall, 34,419 patients (mean 47 per day) diagnosed with glaucoma diseases presented to the network and were included for analysis. The mean age of the patients was 54.16 ± 18.74 years and most were male (n=21,140; 61.42%) from the urban region (n=12,871;37.4%). On categorizing based on the timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic, most of the patients presented pre-COVID-19 (n=29,122; 84.61%), followed by a minority (n=175; 0.51%) during the lockdown and the rest (n=5,122; 14.88%) during unlock phase. An increasing number of patients with secondary glaucoma (n=82; 46.86%) and presenting from the local intra-city (n=82; 46.86%) was seen during the lockdown. There was a 6.6-fold increase in neovascular glaucoma and a 2.7-fold increase in lens induced glaucoma during the lockdown phase ((p<0.001) for both). There was a significant increase in subjects in 4th decade (p<0.03) and a decrease in subjects in 7th decade (p<0.008) during the lockdown period.

Conclusion

The presentation of patients with glaucoma disorders to the hospital is evolving due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The footfalls of patients during the unlock regained to two-thirds of the pre COVID-19 level. During the lockdown, the older patients were less, there was an increase in younger patients and those with secondary glaucoma, and the majority presenting from within the city.

Cardiovascular Risk Stratification in Diabetic Retinopathy via Atherosclerotic Pathway in COVID-19/non-COVID-19 Frameworks using Artificial Intelligence Paradigm: A Narrative Review

Diabetes is one of the main causes of the rising cases of blindness in adults. This microvascular complication of diabetes is termed diabetic retinopathy (DR) and is associated with an expanding risk of cardiovascular events in diabetes patients. DR, in its various forms, is seen to be a powerful indicator of atherosclerosis. Further, the macrovascular complication of diabetes leads to coronary artery disease (CAD). Thus, the timely identification of cardiovascular disease (CVD) complications in DR patients is of utmost importance. Since CAD risk assessment is expensive for low-income countries, it is important to look for surrogate biomarkers for risk stratification of CVD in DR patients. Due to the common genetic makeup between the coronary and carotid arteries, low-cost, high-resolution imaging such as carotid B-mode ultrasound (US) can be used for arterial tissue characterization and risk stratification in DR patients. The advent of artificial intelligence (AI) techniques has facilitated the handling of large cohorts in a big data framework to identify atherosclerotic plaque features in arterial ultrasound. This enables timely CVD risk assessment and risk stratification of patients with DR. Thus, this review focuses on understanding the pathophysiology of DR, retinal and CAD imaging, the role of surrogate markers for CVD, and finally, the CVD risk stratification of DR patients. The review shows a step-by-step cyclic activity of how diabetes and atherosclerotic disease cause DR, leading to the worsening of CVD. We propose a solution to how AI can help in the identification of CVD risk. Lastly, we analyze the role of DR/CVD in the COVID-19 framework.

Management of acute proliferative diabetic retinopathy related complications during the first COVID-19 wave

Background

Routine hospital eye services (HES) across the National health service (NHS), and diabetic eye screening (DES) in Scotland were paused during the COVID-19 lockdown in March 2020. Alternate pathways for managing acute ophthalmic pathology were devised in NHS Grampian covering the North-East of Scotland. Emergency eye treatment centres (EETC) manned by community optometrists were set up to treat and triage referrals to HES.

Methods

Retrospective study analysing consecutive patients referred to a tertiary eye centre (Aberdeen Royal Infirmary) with proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR) related complications between March and August 2020. General demographical data, diabetic history, visual acuity, ocular complication, type of management, time to follow-up, and any appointment cancellations were extracted for analysis.

Results

Fifty two eyes of 46 patients with PDR related complications were identified. HES appointment had been delayed or cancelled in 22 patients (48%) due to COVID-19. Mean age was 54.5 years (±15.1), 21 (46%) were female, 21 (46%) had type 1 diabetes; mean HbA1c was 78 mmol/l (±18.7). Vision ranged from 6/6 to perception of light. 36 (78%) patients had unilateral vitreous haemorrhage (VH), 6 (13%) bilateral, 2 (4%) tractional retinal detachments and 3 (6.5%) had neovascular glaucoma.

Of 48 acute PDR presentations, 18 (38%) were given anti-VEGF within 72 h and two (4%) had PRP the same day. 16 (33%) were rebooked into the laser clinic, 13 (27%) referred for urgent surgical review, and 17 (35%) advised observation and review in clinic. After a median follow-up of 6 months, 12 eyes (23%) of 11 patients progressed to have vitrectomy.

Conclusion

Despite lockdown, hospital appointment cancellations and recommended footfall reduction limiting capacity due to COVID-19, patients reaching out with PDR complications were promptly referred to HES and appropriate treatments carried out with COVID-19 precautions as recommended.