眼科受診を中止した糖尿病網膜症患者についての考察

Background of patients with diabetic retinopathy who discontinued ophthalmological follow up

　眼科受診を途中でやめる糖尿病網膜症患者の実体を調べるため，1994年12月までの6年間に当眼科糖尿病網膜症外来を受診し，途中で受診しなくなった患者401人を対象としてアンケート調査を行い，151人から回答が得られた。このうち死亡していた15人を除く136人（男性74人，女性62人）を対象とした。血糖コントロールは83％の患者が良好であると思っており，網膜症の重症度では56％の患者が軽症もしくは網膜症はないと思っていた。88％は内科通院をしており，受診状況は良好であったが，眼科受診を勧める内科医は少なかった。43％は眼科を受診していなかった。受診しなくなった理由として，通院の不便さを挙げるものが多かったが，なかには網膜症が治っていると思っている患者がいた。

During the foregoing 6-year period, 401 patients with diabetic retinopathy failed to show up at scheduled follow up examinations at the diabetic retinopathy service in our institution. Questionnaires were sent to them asking the reasons for their failure. Answers were obtained from 151 patients. Fifteen patients had died in the meanwhile, leaving 136 patients, 74 males and 62 females, in the present evaluation. Eighty-three percent of patients thought that their blood sugar was under good control, 56% thought that their retinopathy was not severe, 88% continued consultation by their physicians but few of the latter recommend-ed continued examinations by ophthalmologists. Some patients were being seen by other ophthalmologists. As a result, 43% of the 136 patients failed to be seen by ophthalmologists. The main reason for the patients to visit us was the remoteness of the location of our institution. It appeared that good relation is essential between patients of diabetic retinopathy and the ophthalmologists.