Low prevalence of retinopathy among Greenland Inuit

Abstract

To assess the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy (DR) among persons with diabetes and prediabetes participating in the 2018 Population Health Survey in Greenland (B2018), a follow-up survey of three previous health surveys. Participants were invited to a diabetes complication screening. We assessed the prevalence of DR using Optos Daytona Ultra-wide field fundus camera and assessed differences in prevalence according to demographic and clinical characteristics using chi square test and a t-test and assessed DR based on ethnicity. The overall prevalence of DR was 2% (10/483). Among participants with HbA1c ≥48 mmol/mol (6.5%) DR prevalence was 9% (9/91), compared with <1% (1/382) among participants with HbA1c <48 mmol/mol (6.5%). All participants with DR lived in towns. The mean Inuit genetic admixture was lower among participants with DR. The prevalence of DR is low in Greenland and almost non-existent among persons with HbA1c below the diabetes threshold.