Original Article June 17, 2026 June 17, 2026

Clinical and epidemiological profile of diabetic patients at the ophthalmology outpatient clinic: a cross-sectional and retrospective analysis

DOI: 10.37039/1982.8551.20260057

ABSTRACT

Objective:

To outline the clinical and epidemiological profile of patients attended at the ophthalmology outpatient clinic of a university hospital, with emphasis on the presence of diabetes mellitus, diabetic retinopathy, and the type of ophthalmological follow-up.

Methods:

This was a cross-sectional, observational, and retrospective study in which electronic medical records of patients attended at the Ophthalmology Outpatient Clinic were analyzed during the period from March to August 2023 and compared with the same period in 2024. Medical records with incomplete or inconsistent data were excluded. From the records included, the following variables were selected for analysis and presented in tables: sex, age, presence of diabetes mellitus, systemic arterial hypertension, and diabetic retinopathy; follow-up was classified as clinical or surgical and compared between the years of attendance. Statistical analyses were performed using Student’s t test, chi-square test, and analysis of variance (ANOVA), adopting a significance level of 5% (p < 0.05).

Results:

Among the 1,645 medical records analyzed, the results showed that the mean age of the sample was 49.67 years, with a predominance of female patients (60.36%). Of the total population, 17.69% of patients had diabetes mellitus and 3.04% had diabetic retinopathy. Among diabetic patients (n = 291), the mean age was 64.79 years, 57.73% were female, 60.48% had systemic arterial hypertension, 17.18% had diabetic retinopathy, and 7.90% presented both comorbidities. An increase in the number of surgical procedures was observed in 2024 (p < 0.05).

Conclusion:

The findings of this study contributed to the identification of patterns and comorbidities, reinforcing the importance of early screening for diabetic retinopathy. These findings support the need for integrated surveillance and prevention strategies, with a focus on systematic screening of populations at risk.