Baseline Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Patients Seen Through the Free Diabetes Screening (FDS) Program.

Purpose: To characterize the baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes of patients seen through the Free Diabetic Screening (FDS) program, a free diabetic retinopathy screening program for uninsured patients, in the ophthalmology resident clinic at the Wilmer Eye Institute.

Patients and methods: This retrospective longitudinal cohort study included uninsured patients ≥18 years with diabetes mellitus seen through the FDS clinic from 2013 to 2023. Data extraction was performed using manual chart review of the first FDS visit, and automated extraction of the data warehouse related to all other office visits. Patient demographic and clinical characteristics at presentation, treatments, and follow-ups were collected.

Results: A total of 422 patients were included in this study (mean age 52 years; 59% female; 47% Hispanic; 49% Spanish as primary language). One-third of patients had some form of diabetic retinopathy or diabetic macular edema, and 12% had vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy at presentation. In all, nearly 10% of patients were referred for further specialty care, and 71% of these patients completed at least one follow-up visit. The majority of patients (55%) returned for care as recommended and were followed for a mean length of 200 weeks and 10 office visits.

Conclusion: The FDS clinic provided much needed diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment for uninsured patients in Baltimore City and surrounding areas. This study highlights the need for strong integration between initial screening and downstream services, as nearly 10% of patients require further sub-specialty intervention or care.