Patient referral flow between physician and ophthalmologist visits for diabetic retinopathy screening among Japanese patients with diabetes: A retrospective cross-sectional cohort study using the National Database.

ABSTRACT:

Aims/introduction

Regular screening for diabetic retinopathy is essential. This study aimed to show the process and current situation of diabetic retinopathy screening prescribed by physicians (internists) and ophthalmologists for Japanese patients with diabetes.

Materials and methods

This retrospective cohort study used data from the Japanese National Database of Insurance Claims between April 2016 and March 2018. Ophthalmology visits and fundus examinations are defined using specific medical procedure codes. The proportion of ophthalmology visits for patients with diabetic medication and for fundus examination among those who visited ophthalmologists was calculated in the fiscal year 2017. A modified Poisson regression analysis was carried out to identify factors associate

SUBMITTER: Ihana-Sugiyama N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10286790 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature