RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 P51 The factors associated with non-attendance in the Irish national diabetic retinal screening programme by older Irish adults JF Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health JO J Epidemiol Community Health FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd SP A71 OP A71 DO 10.1136/jech-2024-SSMabstracts.147 VO 78 IS Suppl 1 A1 Ryan, A A1 Kearney, P A1 Buckley, C A1 Burton, E A1 O'Keeffe, L A1 McHugh, S A1 Stamenic, D YR 2024 UL http://jech.bmj.com/content/78/Suppl_1/A71.1.abstract AB Background Diabetic eye disease, which includes diabetic retinopathy (DR) and diabetic macular oedema is a microvascular complication of diabetes. As DR is a leading cause of vision loss in middle-aged and elderly people globally, annual screening of the diabetic population for signs of the disease is of major importance. This study aims to identify the attendance rate and explore the risk factors for non-attendance by older Irish adults with diabetes of their diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) appointments.Methods This study is a secondary analysis of data collected by the Irish longitudinal study of aging (TILDA), a longitudinal prospective cohort study. The study population; any person aged >50 years living at a residential address in the Republic-of-Ireland, who was included in Wave 4 of TILDA. Participants with diabetes were identified. Descriptive statistical analysis was carried out to characterise the sample with diabetes and compared against the entire cohort. The DRS attendance rate was identified. Logistic regression analysis was conducted to examine the association between risk factors and DRS attendance. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% Confidence intervals (CI) were generated as a measure of association.Results 8.71% 498 of the 5715 wave 4 cohort were identified as having diabetes. A greater proportion of those with diabetes were male, of an older age, had a lower level of education, were smokers, did not have private medical insurance and had a chronic illness. The non-attendance at DRS was 25.1%. Statistically significant predictors of non-attendance of DRS were being of an older age (OR=2.294, 95% CI = (1.259-4.177)), smoking (OR=1.771, 95%CI = (1.010-3.104)), and fair-poor self-rated visual acuity (OR=2.497, 95% CI = (1.127-4.556)).Conclusion Ensuring optimal attendance for diabetic retinopathy screening (DRS) is imperative, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to enhance participation rates. Our study offers valuable insights for service providers by identifying barriers to DRS attendance among older Irish adults with diabetes. As diabetes prevalence continues to rise, tailored intervention strategies are essential to engage diverse population subgroups effectively.The implications of our findings extend beyond clinical practice to public health policy, contributing to discussions on health equity and preventive services access. By shedding light on disparities in DRS attendance among various demographic groups, our research underscores the importance of addressing inequalities in diabetic eye care. Implementing tailored strategies has the potential to mitigate disparities, leading to improved vision health and overall quality of life for individuals with diabetes.