Diabetic retinopathy was more common in Malayalam than Tamil speakers in one Nilgiris taluk

Design

Community-based cross-sectional screening study

Population

295 adults with type 2 diabetes in Gudalur, Tamil Nadu

Primary outcome

Prevalence of any diabetic retinopathy

Effect

49.7% vs 30.6%; adjusted OR 1.88 (95% CI 1.10-3.22)

This community screening study recruited adults aged 40 and over with type 2 diabetes in Gudalur taluk, Nilgiris, through 12 outreach eye camps in 2024. All had dilated fundus examination by indirect ophthalmoscopy.

Of 295 participants, retinopathy was found in 49.7% of Malayalam speakers and 30.6% of Tamil speakers. Malayalam speakers were older and had longer diabetes duration, but the difference held after adjustment (OR 1.88, 95% CI 1.10-3.22). HbA1c was similar. Malayalam speakers reported more awareness and annual eye checks, and in the dietary subset had higher energy and saturated fat intake.

This is a cross-sectional camp sample, so it cannot say why the difference exists, and self-selection into camps may shape the numbers.

For screening programmes in mixed communities, the finding is a reminder that risk is not uniform even within one district, and that awareness alone does not translate into lower prevalence.

• Half of Malayalam-speaking and under a third of Tamil-speaking participants had retinopathy.
• The difference persisted after adjusting for age and diabetes duration.
• HbA1c did not explain the gap.
• Dilate and examine every adult with diabetes at camps, whatever their community.
• Record diabetes duration at screening; it remains a strong risk marker.

Why it matters

It is Indian community data showing retinopathy burden can differ sharply within one district.

Don't overread it

This cross-sectional camp study cannot show that diet or ethnolinguistic group causes the difference.

The statistics, in plain English

An adjusted odds ratio of 1.88 means nearly double the odds, but the interval (1.10-3.22) is wide because the sample was small.

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