The rates of diabetic retinopathy, a sight-threatening eye disorder, are increasing most rapidly among younger people and Black and Hispanic populations in the United States, according to a new study led by the Cleveland Clinic in Florida.
The research, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, analyzed data from over 359,000 people with type 1 or type 2 diabetes between 2015 and 2022. It revealed that overall prevalence of retinopathy increased by 15% for those with type 1 diabetes and 7% for those with type 2.
However, the most striking disparities were seen among racial and ethnic minorities and younger age groups. Hispanic men and women with type 2 diabetes were 4.08 and 2.49 times more likely to have retinopathy in 2022 compared to White women. Black men and women had a 2.23 and 2.0-fold higher prevalence.
Among those with type 1 diabetes, people aged 20-29 saw a staggering 4.7-fold increase in retinopathy prevalence from 2015 to 2022. Those aged 30-39 had a 1.96-fold increase.
“These findings support diabetic retinopathy screening in young adults and for type 2 diabetic retinopathy interventions specifically designed for racial and ethnic minoritized patients most affected by disease,” the authors wrote.
Rishi Singh, vice president and chief medical officer of Cleveland Clinic Martin North and South Hospitals, served as lead author of the study. The findings underscore the urgent need to address health disparities and ensure equitable access to diabetic retinopathy screening and treatment, especially for high-risk populations.
