Prevalence and associated factors of refractive error among adults in South Ethiopia, a community-based cross-sectional study

INTRODUCTION

The increasing prevalence of refractive error has become a serious health issue that needs serious attention. However, there are few studies regarding the prevalence and associated factors of refractive error at the community level in Ethiopia as well as in the study area. Therefore, providing updated data is crucial to reduce the burdens of refractive error in the community.

OBJECTIVE

To assess the prevalence and associated factors of refractive error among adults in Hawassa City, South Ethiopia, 2023.

METHOD

A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 951 adults using a multistage sampling technique from May 8 to June 8, 2023, in Hawassa City, South Ethiopia. A pretested, structured questionnaire combined with an ocular examination and a refraction procedure was used to collect data. The collected data from the Kobo Toolbox was exported to a statistical package for social sciences for analysis. Binary and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed. A P-value of less than 0.05 was considered statistically significant in the multivariable analysis.

RESULT

A total of 894 study participants were involved in this study with a 94.1% response rate. The prevalence of refractive error was 12.3% (95% CI: 10.2, 14.5%). Regular use of electronic devices (adjusted odds ratio = 3.64, 95% CI: 2.25, 5.91), being diabetic (adjusted odds ratio = 4.02, 95% CI: 2.16, 7.48), positive family history of refractive error (adjusted odds ratio = 2.71, 95% CI 1.59, 4.61) and positive history of cataract surgery (adjusted odds ratio = 5.17, 95% CI 2.19, 12.4) were significantly associated with refractive error.

CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

The overall magnitude of refractive error in our study area was high. Regular use of electronic devices, being diabetic, positive family history of refractive error, and a positive history of cataract surgery were associated with refractive error.

Sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and its predictors among patients with diabetes visiting Adare General Hospital in Southern Ethiopia: a hospital-based cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVE

The study aimed to determine the prevalence of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy and its predictors among patients with diabetes attending Adare General Hospital in Southern Ethiopia.

DESIGN

A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted using a systematic random sampling method.

SETTING

The study was conducted at the diabetic clinic of Adare General Hospital in Sidama region, Southern Ethiopia.

PARTICIPANTS

The study included 391 patients with diabetes aged ≥18 years who had attended the diabetic clinic of Adare General Hospital in Southern Ethiopia.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES

Data were collected using questionnaires completed by an interviewer, a review of medical records and eye examinations.

RESULT

The study included 391 patients with diabetes with a median age of 49 years. The prevalence of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy was 10.7% (95% CI: 7.7% to 14%). Rural dwellers (adjusted OR (AOR)=2.17, 95% CI: 1.05 to 4.46), duration of diabetes ≥6 years (AOR=2.43, 95% CI: 1.06 to 5.57), poor glycaemic control (AOR=2.80, 95% CI: 1.03 to 7.64), low physical activity (AOR=2.85, 95% CI: 1.01 to 8.05), hypertension (AOR=3.25, 95% CI: 1.48 to 7.15) and diabetic peripheral neuropathy (AOR=3.32, 95% CI: 1.18 to 9.33) were significantly associated with sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a high prevalence of sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy. Sight-threatening diabetic retinopathy was significantly associated with modified factors such as glycaemic control, hypertension, physical activity and diabetic peripheral neuropathy. Therefore, all patients with diabetes were recommended to maintain normal blood glucose, avoid hypertension, exercise regularly and have regular eye examinations.

Correction: Environmentally responsive hydrogel composites for dynamic body thermoregulation

Correction for 'Environmentally responsive hydrogel composites for dynamic body thermoregulation' by M. Garzón Altamirano et al., Soft Matter, 2023, 19, 2360-2369, https://doi.org/10.1039/D2SM01548J.

Environmentally responsive hydrogel composites for dynamic body thermoregulation

Hydrogel composites exhibiting dynamic thermo-hydro responsive modulation of infrared radiation (IR) in the 5-15 μm range are designed for personalized body thermoregulation. Fabrication of the proposed system relies on the periodic arrangement of submicron-sized spherical fine silica (SiO₂) particles within poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) (PNIPAM)-based hydrogels. The dependence of the SiO₂ particles content on the IR reflection, followed by its modulation in response to any immediate environmental changes are thereby investigated. The addition of 20 wt% of SiO₂ allowed the hydrogel composites to reflect 20% of the IR emitted by the human body at constant temperature (i.e. T = 20 °C) and relative humidity (i.e. RH = 0%). According to Bragg's law, we found that the smaller the distance between the SiO₂ particles, the higher the IR reflection. The IR reflection further increased to a maximum of 42% when the resulting hydrogel composites are subjected to changes in relative humidity (i.e. RH = 60%) and temperature (i.e. T = 35 °C). Thermography is used to map the IR radiation emitted from the hydrogel composites when placed on the skin of the human body, demonstrating that the composite is actually reflecting IR. The latter results are supported by theoretical models that define the IR reflection profile of the resulting hydrogel composites with respect to the silica content, relative humidity and temperature.