SCREENING PRACTICES AND LATE DIAGNOSIS OF HYDROXYCHLOROQUINE RETINOPATHY IN ASIAN PATIENTS

To investigate the associations between screening practices and late diagnosis in Asian patients with hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.

In total, 92 Korean patients with hydroxychloroquine retinopathy were included and separated into late diagnosis and earlier diagnosis groups according to the retinopathy stage at the time of diagnosis. Details of screening practices regarding timing and modalities for baseline and annual monitoring examinations were compared between the two groups. Adherence to the current American Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines was compared between the two groups.

Timing of baseline and initial monitoring examinations was appropriate as per the Academy of Ophthalmology guidelines in only 5.3% of patients with late diagnosis. There were significant differences in the proportions of patients receiving initial monitoring at 5 years of use and those receiving annual monitoring between the late and earlier diagnosis groups ( P = 0.003 and <0.001, respectively). The duration from the start date of hydroxychloroquine therapy to the first monitoring examination was significantly prolonged in the late diagnosis group ( P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression revealed significant association of the time duration with the first monitoring examination ( P = 0.042) and age ( P = 0.028) with late diagnosis.

Results of this study suggest that poor adherence to the Academy of Ophthalmology guideline, particularly delayed initial monitoring, may be associated with late diagnosis of hydroxychloroquine retinopathy.