Tamara Thomas

Urban Health Today

Almost 10 million Americans have diabetic retinopathy and may be at risk for blindness, according to a study published in JAMA Ophthalmology.Dr. David Rein and colleagues analyzed data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention&rsquo;s Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System to estimate the number of people in the U.S. who have diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy in 2021.The researchers found that an estimated 9.6 million people in the United States had diabetic-related eye disease&mdash;about 26% of those with diabetes. They also found that about 2 million had the most severe form, vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy (VTDR)&mdash;about 5% of people with diabetes.Furthermore, the study found that the number of adults aged 40 and older with diabetes-related eye disease in 2021 is more than double what it was in 2004, from 4.1 million to 9.6 million in 2021. Similarly, the number of people living with VTDR has nearly doubled, from 899,000 to 1.84 million in 2021.&nbsp;&ldquo;This finding illustrates the burden of this potentially vision-threatening complication of diabetes,&rdquo; said Dr. Rein.The researchers also found that the prevalence of diabetic retinopathy was higher among younger people. More than 1 in 10 people aged 24 and under had diabetic retinopathy, and nearly 1 in 5 people aged 25 to 39 had diabetic retinopathy.The findings also revealed that the number of VTDR cases is higher for Black (9%) and Hispanic (7%) individuals than white people (4%).&ldquo;This suggests that negative social determinants of health, such as poverty, lack of healthcare access, and likely poor diet and exercise, are resulting in higher rates of diabetes, poorer glucose control among people with diabetes, and greater rates of diabetes complications like diabetic retinopathy,&rdquo; Dr. Rein said.&nbsp;Source: <a href="https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-06-million-americans-diabetes-linked-eye-disease.html">MedicalXpress</a>

Katie Kosko

Death, Suicide Risk Higher in Young Adults With Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria

Rebecca Araujo

Removing Roadblocks: Transportation Support Can Enhance Myeloma Care Equity

Multiple Myeloma

Lou Portero

Breakthrough AI Model Detects Multiple Sclerosis Progression Earlier Than Clinical Diagnosis

AI in Medicine

Latest News

Nearly 10 Million Americans Have Diabetes-Related Eye Disease

Eye Disease

Data from the CDCs Vision and Eye Health Surveillance System revealed the number of people in the U.S with diabetic retinopathy and vision-threatening diabetic retinopathy.

About Us

Editorial Policy

Contributors & Partners

Contact Us

eNewsletters

Work With Us

Advertising

Career Center

GU Oncology Now

Blood Cancers Today

Cancer Nursing Today

DocWire News

MashupMD

Food Allergy Roundtable Discussions

Allergy

Blood Cancers

— Multiple Myeloma

Breast Cancer

Colorectal Cancer

Pancreatic Cancer

Prostate Cancer

Cancer

Diabetes

Gastroenterology

Heart Failure

Heart Disease Prevention

Heart Health

— Alzheimer’s Disease

Neurology

Public Health

Autoimmune Disease

Infectious Diseases

Obesity

Pediatrics

Sickle Cell Disease

Digital Health

Dermatology

Pulmonology

Video Insights

Workforce News

More

Gynecologic Cancer

Heart Disease in Women

Menopause

Reproductive Health

Women’s Neurology

Well Woman Today

Roundtables

Podcasts

Conferences

Viewpoints

Subscribe