Cheryl Au

Purpose: To quantify the frequency of use of fenofibrate medications in patients attending a specialized diabetic retinopathy clinic at two hospitals located in different healthcare systems.

Method: A chart review was performed on one hundred consecutive patients attending the diabetic retinopathy clinic of two large specialized institutions. One hospital was located in Cambridge, United Kingdom and the other in Sydney, Australia. Data collected included age, sex, medications and severity of diabetic retinopathy.

Results: At both hospitals, there was a similar age and gender distribution amongst the study samples. The severity of diabetic retinopathy ranged from no diabetic retinopathy through to severe proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Overall only 2% of patients attending the diabetic retinopathy clinic at Addenbrookeís Hospital, Cambridge and 3% attending the diabetic retinopathy clinic at Westmead Hospital, Sydney had been prescribed fenofibrate medications.

Conclusions: Despite firm evidence that fenofibrate medications may slow the progression of diabetic retinopathy, they appear to be infrequently prescribed in patients attending specialized hospital diabetic retinopathy clinics in two different healthcare systems. Increasing awareness among ophthalmologists and general practitioners of the benefits of fenofibrates may increase their use. Further quantitative and/or qualitative studies can be performed to explore the reasons behind cliniciansí prescribing patterns of this medication.