Cost-effectiveness and diagnostic accuracy of telemedicine in macular disease and diabetic retinopathy: A systematic review and meta-analysis.

Waqas Ullah, Sana Khan Pathan, Ankur Panchal, Swapna Anandan, Kaiser Saleem, Yasar Sattar, Ejaz Ahmad, Maryam Mukhtar, Haq Nawaz

Journal: Medicine 2020;99(25):e20306

PMID: 32569163

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Abstract

OBJECTIVE

To determine cost-effectiveness and the diagnostic accuracy of teleophthalmology (TO) in the detection of macular edema (ME) and various grades of diabetic retinopathy (DR).

METHODS

MEDLINE, EMBASE, and Cochrane databases were searched for TO, ME, and DR on May 25, 2016. The search was updated on April 2, 2019. Pooled sensitivity and specificity for ME and various grades of DR were determined using Meta-Disc software. A systematic review of the articles discussing the cost-effectiveness of TO screening was also performed.

RESULTS

Thirty-three articles on the diagnostic accuracy and 28 articles on the cost-effectiveness were selected.

CONCLUSIONS

Telescreening is moderately sensitive but very specific for the diagnosis of diabetic retinopathy. Non-mydriatic Teleretinal screening services are cost-effective, decrease clinics workload, and increase patient compliance if provided free of cost in remote low socioeconomic regions.

Address: Internal Medicine, Abington - Jefferson Health, Abington, PA, USA.; Internal Medicine, Griffin Hospital, CT, USA.; University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, PA.; Internal Medicine, Icahn School of Medicine Mount Sinai-Elmhurst Hospital, NY, USA.; Internal Medicine, Nishtar Hospital Center, Multan.; Institute of Cardiology, Rawalpindi, Pakistan.

DOI: 10.1097/MD.0000000000020306