RESUMEN
Diabetics with proliferative retinopathy are likely to have multi-system complications which contribute to their reduced life expectancy. The management of proliferative diabetic retinopathy may require costly vitreous surgery and, if life expectancy is low, the cost benefit is questioned by all concerned (patients, relatives, governments, health planners and doctors). The objective of this study is to determine the trends in life expectancy in diabetic patients undergoing vitreous surgery and any pre-morbid factors that may be of significance. A retrospective study of 145 diabetic patients who had vitreous surgery from 1992 to 1997 at the Port of Spain Adventist Hospital was done. Analysis of the data reveals that 20 percent of the patients died within two years and 68 percent of those within one year. Patients with insulin dependent diabetes were more likely to die than those on oral medication, and patients of East Indian origin were twice as likely to die in the first two years as those of African descent. The findings are important with respect to counselling candidates for surgery and also for health planners contemplating directing resources in vitreo-retinal services. The study continues and will attempt to identify other markers.(AU)