AI screening doubles follow-up care for diabetic retinopathy in Tanzania
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Researchers from the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (LSHTM) conducted a trial in Tanzania where 2,378 people with diabetes received either AI-supported or standard screening for diabetic retinopathy, a leading cause of blindness.
The study compared how many patients attended specialist appointments after receiving screening results.
People who received AI screening and needed further care were almost twice as likely, 35.9 percent, to attend a specialist clinic within eight weeks compared to those receiving standard screening, at 18.2 percent. Those receiving AI screening also attended appointments much sooner, averaging 10.9 days after screening, while those with standard screening waited 36.9 days. This difference stemmed from the AI pathway providing immediate results with in-person counseling from healthcare workers.
Standard screening involved results and counseling delivered weeks later by phone. The LSHTM team suggests that using AI in screening programs could free up healthcare workers to offer more direct patient support, especially in regions with limited resources. The Tanzanian Ministry of Health plans to include AI diagnostics in its diabetic eye screening programs. However, the researchers emphasize that increased screening must also be paired with better access to specialist clinics and treatments to prevent vision loss.
