Impact of the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Pandemic on Outpatient Visits for Diabetic Retinopathy in Japan: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

ABSTRACT:

Purpose

Long-term ramifications of the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic on various care-seeking characteristics of patients with diabetic retinopathy remain unclear. This study aimed to identify risk factors for dropout from regular fundus examinations (RFEs) in patients with diabetic retinopathy in Japan.

Methods

We extracted demographic and health checkup data (April 2018 to March 2021) from the JMDC database. Patients with diabetes identified using diagnosis-related and medication codes were included. The dropout and continuation groups included patients who discontinued and continued to undergo RFEs during the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic, respectively.

Results

The number of RFEs was significantly lower during the mild lockdown period (April and May 2020) th

SUBMITTER: Hirosawa K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11379092 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature