{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,4,16]],"date-time":"2026-04-16T03:26:11Z","timestamp":1776309971799,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":43,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"12","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,22]],"date-time":"2024-11-22T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1732233600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Biomolecules"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is one of the leading causes of blindness among diabetic patients, particularly in areas with an increase in diabetes epidemics, such as Saudi Arabia. Notwithstanding the significant public health implications, data on the prevalence and risk factors of DR in Saudi Arabia are few and scattered, limited to certain geographic areas. Our study objective is to conduct a systematic review of the literature and a meta-analysis of the prevalence and predictors for DR in Saudi Arabia, within both type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Methods: A systematic review and meta-analysis were constructed according to PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar electronic databases for studies published from 2000\u20132023. Any study related to the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy in T1DM or T2DM among adult patients aged \u226518 years that was conducted in Saudi Arabia was included. Pooling prevalence estimates were calculated using a random-effects model, and heterogeneity across the studies was tested by the I2 statistic and Cochran\u2019s Q test. Results: A total of 11 studies published between 2006 and 2019 met the inclusion criteria, with sample sizes ranging from 99 to over 50,000 participants. The overall pooled prevalence of DR was estimated to be 31% (95% CI: 24\u201339%), with substantial heterogeneity observed across studies (I2 = 99%). Prevalence estimates ranged from 16.7% to 69.8% and were influenced by variables such as study design, duration of diabetes, and glycemic control. Among individuals with type 2 diabetes, the pooled prevalence was 24% (95% CI: 20\u201328%). Poor glycemic control and longer diabetes duration were consistently identified as significant predictors of DR, while other factors, such as obesity and hypertension, were also associated with an increased risk of DR. Conclusions: The high prevalence of DR in Saudi Arabia highlights the critical need for focused public health initiatives, especially among those with type 2 diabetes. To minimize the effects of DR, early intervention, routine DR screening programs, and optimal diabetes control are essential. The increasing prevalence of DR in Saudi Arabia requires careful consideration of healthcare policy and resource allocation, which is made possible by our results.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/biom14121486","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,22]],"date-time":"2024-11-22T04:21:36Z","timestamp":1732249296000},"page":"1486","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":9,"title":["Prevalence and Predictors of Diabetic Retinopathy in Saudi Arabia: Insights from a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0005-3499-4028","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ali Mohammed","family":"Alshahrani","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Ophthalmology, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushit 62413, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Alaa Mohammed","family":"Alshahrani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Family Medicine, Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region, Khamis Mushit 62413, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-1990-2250","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Beshayer Abdullah H.","family":"Al-Boqami","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Al Shifa Hospital, Qassim Health Cluster, Buraydah 52355, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Alwaleed Abdulhadi","family":"Alqahtani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University, Riyadh 11623, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Bassam","family":"Alzahrani","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences (KSAU-HS), Riyadh 11481, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0007-2090-900X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Yousef","family":"Bassi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, King Abdulaziz University, Jeddah 22252, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Mohammed Yousef","family":"Almohaimeed","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, Qassim University, Buraydah 51452, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Abeer Mohammed","family":"Alalmaai","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"College of Medicine, King Khalid University, Abha 62529, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"given":"Ariana","family":"Saraiva","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Research in Veterinary Medicine (I-MVET), Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Lisbon University Centre, Lus\u00f3fona University, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0008-4671-1162","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Bandar Naffaa","family":"Alhumaidi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Community Health Nursing, College of Nursing, Taibah University, Al Madinah Al Munawwarah 42241, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-8888-4098","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Najla A.","family":"Albaridi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Health Science, College of Health and Rehabilitation, Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University, P.O. Box 84428, Riyadh 11671, Saudi Arabia"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-0597-7892","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria Jo\u00e3o","family":"Lima","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CERNAS Research Centre, Polytechnic University of Viseu, 3504-510 Viseu, Portugal"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-2802-7873","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Conrado","family":"Carrascosa","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Animal Pathology and Production, Bromatology and Food Technology, Faculty of Veterinary, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Trasmonta\u00f1a s\/n, 35413 Arucas, Spain"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-5286-2249","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Ant\u00f3nio","family":"Raposo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CBIOS (Research Center for Biosciences and Health Technologies), Universidade Lus\u00f3fona de Humanidades e Tecnologias, Campo Grande 376, 1749-024 Lisboa, Portugal"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2024,11,22]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","unstructured":"American Diabetes Association (2014). 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