Authors of this systematic review and meta-analysis examined the prevalence and progression of diabetic nephropathy (DN) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus, focusing on how ethnicity and socioeconomic status (SES) may contribute to variations in these outcomes. The study found an overall prevalence of DN at 18%, with no significant differences based on ethnicity, but low economic status and low education levels were associated with a 4% increased risk of DN. For DR, the prevalence was higher among Afro-Caribbean populations (28%) compared to White/Caucasian (19%) and Asian/Indo Asian (25%) populations. Additionally, low-SES populations had a higher prevalence of DR compared to high-SES populations.

The review also revealed that Black individuals had a higher risk of progression to end-stage renal disease and diabetic maculopathy compared to other ethnic groups. Furthermore, individuals with high SES had a lower rate of DR progression, with an odds ratio of 0.63 compared to those with low SES. While the study provides insights into how ethnicity and SES influence the development and progression of DN and DR, the evidence was limited by the small number of studies and samples for certain ethnic and socioeconomic groups.

Reference: Alobaid T, Karalliedde J, O’Connell MD, et al. The Prevalence and Progression of Microvascular Complications and the Interaction With Ethnicity and Socioeconomic Status in People With Type 2 Diabetes: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Diabetes Res. 2025;2025:3307594. doi: 10.1155/jdr/3307594.