Global Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy Over the Last Decade (2015–2025): A Scoping Review

Global Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy Over the Last Decade (2015–2025): A Scoping Review | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Systematic Review Global Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy Over the Last Decade (2015–2025): A Scoping Review Mohammed Ramzi Mohammed, Shahd Ashraf Fathi This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7196499/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Background : Diabetic retinopathy (DR) affects approximately 30–40% of people with diabetes globally and is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Over the last decade, the prevalence of diabetes has risen dramatically, especially in low- and middle-income countries, increasing the public health burden of DR. However, reported prevalence rates vary widely by region, population, and diagnostic criteria, ranging from 10% in some developed countries to over 40% in certain underserved populations. A systematic mapping of DR prevalence studies published from 2015 to 2025 is essential to understand these variations and guide effective screening programs. Objective : To map and summarize the global prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among people with diabetes, identifying regional differences, variations by diabetes type, and trends over the past decade. Methods : We will conduct a scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Eligible studies include cross-sectional and cohort studies published in English between January 2015 and July 2025, reporting prevalence data on any type of DR among adults with type 1 or type 2 diabetes. Databases to be searched include PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Two reviewers will independently screen and extract data on study characteristics, sample sizes (ranging from 200 to over 50,000 participants), DR prevalence rates (ranging from 8% to 45%), DR subtypes (non-proliferative, proliferative, diabetic macular edema), and diagnostic methods (fundus photography, clinical examination). Results : Preliminary synthesis indicates an overall global DR prevalence averaging approximately 27%, with higher rates reported in Africa (up to 35%) and Southeast Asia (up to 40%), and lower rates in North America (~15–20%). Proliferative DR prevalence generally ranges between 3–8% globally. Results will be presented in detailed tables stratified by region, DR subtype, and diabetes type. The PRISMA-ScR flow diagram will depict the study selection process. Conclusion : This review will provide comprehensive insights into the global epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy over the past decade, highlighting critical geographic and methodological gaps. Findings will inform targeted screening initiatives and guide future research priorities to reduce DR-related vision loss worldwide. Ophthalmology Endocrinology & Metabolism Diabetic retinopathy prevalence epidemiology global health diabetes mellitus scoping review PRISMA-ScR 2015–2025 Full Text Additional Declarations The authors declare no competing interests. Supplementary Files Dataextraction.xlsx Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-7196499","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Systematic Review","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":489760220,"identity":"cd53392b-51bc-4de8-a745-1de18811021a","order_by":0,"name":"Mohammed Ramzi Mohammed","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAAA7klEQVRIiWNgGAWjYFACHhDBDOVUgNjMDaRoOQNiM5KihbENTOLXotvee/DTjQrrfPP208mfeefVRvO3A7X8qNiGU4vZmXPJ0jln0i3nnMndYMy77XjujMOMDYw9Z27j1nIjx0A6t+2wgQRD7oZk3m3HchuAWpgZ2/BqMf6d+w+ohf/thsO8c47lzidCi5k00GQDCYncjc28DTW5GwhqOXPGzDrnWDpQy9vNjHOOHcjdCNRyEK9fjvcY386psQY6LHfzhzc1dbnzzh8++OBHBW4tKICJh+EwmHGAOPVAwPiDoY5oxaNgFIyCUTByAADdeV09Hm1g4gAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0003-3790-2569","institution":"Kazan Federal University","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Mohammed","middleName":"Ramzi","lastName":"Mohammed","suffix":""},{"id":489760221,"identity":"d7382e5e-03ed-4c39-bd84-00671495cb48","order_by":1,"name":"Shahd Ashraf Fathi","email":"","orcid":"https://orcid.org/0009-0001-6614-7174","institution":"Kazan Federal University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Shahd","middleName":"Ashraf","lastName":"Fathi","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2025-07-23 12:41:42","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":{"humanSubjects":false,"vertebrateSubjects":true,"conflictsOfInterestStatement":false,"humanSubjectEthicalGuidelines":false,"humanSubjectConsent":false,"humanSubjectClinicalTrial":false,"humanSubjectCaseReport":false,"vertebrateSubjectEthicalGuidelines":true},"doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7196499/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7196499/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":87454345,"identity":"145e3533-b394-4af0-85c3-aa1bc215eef1","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-24 03:47:23","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":447164,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"DiabeticRetinopathy...publish.1.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7196499/v1_covered_c65a9018-e069-4132-bc00-6a4e97272791.pdf"},{"id":87453342,"identity":"b11cf1eb-427e-460b-9c48-c6cdf600e8ae","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2025-07-24 03:31:20","extension":"xlsx","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"supplement","size":8764,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"Dataextraction.xlsx","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-7196499/v1/a0a10abb729709834f091b45.xlsx"}],"financialInterests":"The authors declare no competing interests.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eGlobal Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy Over the Last Decade (2015–2025): A Scoping Review\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":true,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"Kazan Federal University","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Diabetic retinopathy, prevalence, epidemiology, global health, diabetes mellitus, scoping review, PRISMA-ScR, 2015–2025","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-7196499/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-7196499/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBackground\u003c/strong\u003e: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) affects approximately 30–40% of people with diabetes globally and is a leading cause of vision impairment and blindness. Over the last decade, the prevalence of diabetes has risen dramatically, especially in low- and middle-income countries, increasing the public health burden of DR. However, reported prevalence rates vary widely by region, population, and diagnostic criteria, ranging from 10% in some developed countries to over 40% in certain underserved populations. A systematic mapping of DR prevalence studies published from 2015 to 2025 is essential to understand these variations and guide effective screening programs.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eObjective\u003c/strong\u003e: To map and summarize the global prevalence of diabetic retinopathy among people with diabetes, identifying regional differences, variations by diabetes type, and trends over the past decade.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eMethods\u003c/strong\u003e: We will conduct a scoping review following the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. 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Results will be presented in detailed tables stratified by region, DR subtype, and diabetes type. The PRISMA-ScR flow diagram will depict the study selection process.\u003cbr\u003e\n\u003cstrong\u003eConclusion\u003c/strong\u003e: This review will provide comprehensive insights into the global epidemiology of diabetic retinopathy over the past decade, highlighting critical geographic and methodological gaps. 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