Feasibility Study of a Multimodal, Cloud-Based, Diabetic Retinal Screening Program in a Workplace Environment.

PubMed ID: 34111266

Author(s): Willis JR, Ali FS, Argente B, Domalpally A, Gannon J, Gao SS, Grover S, Kanodia P, Russell-Puleri S, Sun D, Thrasher C, Tsougarakis C, Hopkins JJ. Feasibility Study of a Multimodal, Cloud-Based, Diabetic Retinal Screening Program in a Workplace Environment. Transl Vis Sci Technol. 2021 May 3;10(6):20. doi: 10.1167/tvst.10.6.20. PMID 34111266

Journal: Translational Vision Science & Technology, Volume 10, Issue 6, 05 2021

Purpose To evaluate the feasibility of capturing and interpreting retinal images in a workplace environment using a multimodal, cloud-based, diabetic retinal screening program combined with electronic self-reported questionnaires. The burden of diabetic retinopathy (DR) and other retinal conditions, healthcare utilization, and visual function were also assessed.

Methods A cross-sectional feasibility study was conducted at the Genentech, Inc., Campus Health Center. Eyes of participants were imaged using ultra-widefield (UWF) color fundus photography (CFP) and spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). A cloud-based platform was used for the automated, seamless transfer of images to a remote reading center for evaluation for DR and other retinal pathologies. Electronic surveys collected participants’ self-reported medical histories, healthcare utilization, and visual function data.

Results Among 100 participants (mean age, 43.9 years; 44% male), 33% of them self-reported diabetes. Eye examinations within the past 12 months were reported by 71% of all participants (n = 71/100) and by 85% (n = 28/33) of those with self-reported diabetes. Among participants with complete screening images from both UWF-CFP and SD-OCT, 20% (n = 6/30) of those with self-reported diabetes and 8.5% (n = 5/59) of participants with no history of diabetes were unaware they had mild/moderate nonproliferative DR. Among all participants, 20% (20/100) had a retinal finding, on either UWF-CFP or SD-OCT, or both, which prompted a referral for further evaluation.

Conclusions A retinal screening program deployed via a secure, scalable, and interoperable cloud-based platform was feasible and conveniently integrated into the workplace.

Translational Relevance Cloud-based platforms could be used to promote a secure, scalable, and interoperable system for retinal screening in nontraditional environments.