Screening for diabetic retinopathy in James Bay, Ontario: a cost-effectiveness analysis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Retinopathy is a common complication of diabetes mellitus that if detected early by regular retinal examinations can be treated; thus, blindness can be delayed or prevented. Providing high-quality retinal screening is difficult, especially in rural and remote areas. Canada's First Nations population has a higher prevalence of diabetes and is, in general, more geographically isolated than the broader Canadian population. We modelled the cost-effectiveness of retinopathy screening by travelling retina specialists versus retinal photography with a portable digital camera in an isolated First Nations cohort with diabetes.

Methods

The 2 screening programs were modelled to run concurrently for 5 years, with outcomes evaluated over 10 years. To construct economic models

SUBMITTER: Maberley D 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC140424 | biostudies-literature | 2003 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature