Global, regional and national burden of blindness and vision loss attributable to diabetic retinopathy, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors' conclusion
Blindness and vision loss attributed to DR pose significant global health and economic challenges. It is imperative for health system managers to formulate strong strategies to address these growing issues effectively.
Study context
- Population
- Blindness and vision loss attributed to diabetic retinopathy (DR), 204 countries and regions, 1990–2021, by time, location, age and sociodemographic index (SDI)
- Outcome
- Global burden of blindness and vision loss attributed to DR (prevalence and YLD)
- Follow-up
- 1990–2021
Methodological detailsEstimated annual percentage change (EAPC), health inequity analysis (slope index and concentration index), decomposition analysis, frontier analysis, Bayesian age-period-cohort predictive modelling
- EAPC
- Health inequity analysis (slope index and concentration index)
- Decomposition analysis
- Frontier analysis
- Bayesian age-period-cohort predictive modelling
Main finding
As reported in the abstract
1990–2021
- Global burden increased rapidly from 1990 to 2021; projected to remain stable until 2046
- Age-standardized prevalence rates (ASPR) and age-standardized years lived with disability (YLD) rates rose in all five SDI regions; high and high-middle SDI regions surpassed global levels, EAPC and 95% CI all >0
Observational data: associations, not effects.
Further findings
Sex differences · 2021
- Prevalence cases, YLD cases, prevalence and YLD rates in females vs males
- ≈1.4 times
Health inequality · 1990–2021
- Significant SDI-related disparities in prevalence and YLD rates across 204 countries and regions
Decomposition analysis
- Ageing, population growth and epidemiological changes all increased the burden of prevalence and YLD
Frontier analysis
- High SDI regions had greater potential for improvement
T2D vs T1D · 2021
- Prevalence and YLD rates attributable to T2D rapidly increased with age, vs a relatively stable trend for T1D
Original publication
Global, regional and national burden of blindness and vision loss attributable to diabetic retinopathy, 1990–2021: A systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. Diabetes Obes Metab. Published 22 July 2025. doi:10.
Composed by AI from the published abstract and checked against it. How Briefs are made →