Diabetes and Vascular Disease

SUN-597 - Prevalence of Diabetic Retinopathy and Diabetic Kidney Disease in Brazil: A Population-Based Study

Sunday, June 14, 2026

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM CT

Location: ENDOExpo; Poster Floor

Senior Author/Primary Investigator(s)

FM

Fernando Korn Malerbi, PhD

Brazilian Diabetes Society, Department of Eye Health, São Paulo, Brazil.
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Co-Author(s)

FM

Fernando Korn Malerbi, PhD

Brazilian Diabetes Society, Department of Eye Health, São Paulo, Brazil.
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
GC

Georgia Martina Chichelero, MD

Porto Alegre, BRAZIL
Dd

Daniela Meirelles do Nascimento, PhD

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Physical Activity- Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Porto Alegre, Brazil
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
RC

Roberta Arnoldi Cobas, PhD

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Department of Internal Medicine, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Senior Author/Primary Investigator(s)

LB

Luciana Bahia, PhD

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Co-Author(s)

LB

Luciana Bahia, PhD

Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Institute for Health Technology Assessment, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
DS

Daniel Vitor de Vasconcelos Santos, PhD

Hospital das Clinicas da Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Centro de Telessaúde, Belo Horizonte, Brazil.
Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
GM

Gustavo Melo, PhD

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Department of Ophthalmology, São Paulo, Brazil.
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
KR

Karla Freire Rezende, PhD

Universidade Federal de Sergipe, Department of Medicine, Sergipe, Brazil.
Sergipe, Sergipe, Brazil
EP

Elisa Brosina De Leon Pedrosa, PhD

Universidade Federal do Amazonas, Manaus, Brazil
Manaus, Amazonas, Brazil
Jd

João Roberto de Sa, PhD

Faculdade de Medicina do ABC, Department of Endocrinology, São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
ML

Márcio Weissheimer Lauria, PhD

Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Department of Internal Medicine, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Minas Gerais, Minas Gerais, Brazil
FR

Flaviene Alves do Prado Romani, MD

Hospital Regional de Taguatinga, Department of Endocrinology, Taguatinga, Brazil.
Taguatinga, Distrito Federal, Brazil
BP

Bianca de Almeida Pititto, PhD

Universidade Federal de São Paulo, Department of Preventive Medicine, São Paulo, Brazil
São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil

Abstract Poster Presenter(s)

BS

Beatriz D. Schaan, PhD

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Physical Activity- Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Senior Author/Primary Investigator(s)

BS

Beatriz D. Schaan, PhD

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Physical Activity- Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Co-Author(s)

BS

Beatriz D. Schaan, PhD

Hospital de Clinicas de Porto Alegre and Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, Physical Activity- Diabetes and Cardiovascular Disease Laboratory, Porto Alegre, Brazil.
Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil

Background: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) has been increasing worldwide, including in Brazil, while the burden of chronic complications varies substantially across countries. Understanding the prevalence of diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR) is particularly important in low- and middle-income countries with marked territorial heterogeneity, such as Brazil, to inform targeted interventions and improve access to screening and treatment.

Objective: To estimate the prevalence of DKD and DR across regions in Brazil and its association with clinical variables.

Methods: This cross-sectional study included people with DM, randomly selected from primary and tertiary health care settings across the five regions of Brazil. They were evaluated for the presence of DKD [≥ 30 mg/g albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR) and/or glomerular filtration rate (GFR) less than 60 mL/min - point-of-care test) and DR [color fundus photographs taken with a portable retinal camera Eyer (Phelcom Technologies), assessed by two retinal specialists]. Statistics: Mann-Whitney U test, Student’s t-test, Pearson chi-square test. Statistical significance when p< 0.05.

Results: 2,073 patients representing all regions of Brazil, aged 61.4 ± 12.3 yrs, mainly women (64.1%), white (40.2%) and with type 2 diabetes (93.5%), were included. Hypertension and dyslipidemia were present in 73.5% and 64.9% of the sample, respectively. The prevalence of DKD was 41.0% and was positively associated with HbA1c levels (PR 1.05 [CI 95% 1.02-1.08, p< 0.001]), diabetes duration (PR 1.02 [CI 95% 1.01-1.02, p< 0.001]), and hypertension (PR 1.67 [CI 95% 1.44-1.93, p< 0.001]). The prevalence of DR and maculopathy was 29.5% and 12.4%, respectively. Both conditions were associated with HbA1c levels (PR 1.19 [CI 95% 1.16-1.22] and PR 1.28 [CI 95% 1.22-1.34] , p< 0.001]) and diabetes duration (PR 1.03 [CI 95% 1.03-1.04] and PR 1.03 [CI 95% 1.02-1.04], p< 0.001]). DR was also associated with hypertension (p=0.04), type 2 diabetes (p=0.004), and was more prevalent in tertiary care settings (p=0.03).

Conclusion: The high prevalence of DKD and DR observed in this nationally representative sample highlights the substantial burden of microvascular complications among individuals living with diabetes in Brazil. These findings reinforce the need for large-scale, systematic screening strategies to enable early identification of DKD and DR.

Support: SBD (Sociedade Brasileira de Diabetes); IATS (Instituto de Avaliação em Tecnologia em Saúde); FIPE (Fundo de Incentivo à Pesquisa); FAPERGS (Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado do Rio Grande do Sul); CNPq (Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico), FUNDEP (Fundação do Desenvolvimento da Pesquisa), CIIA (Centro Integrado de Inteligência Artificial), CAPES (Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior)

*Unless otherwise noted, all abstracts presented at ENDO must not be released to the press or the public until the date and time of presentation. For oral presentations, the abstracts are embargoed until the session begins. The Endocrine Society reserves the right to lift the embargo on specific abstracts that are selected for promotion prior to or during ENDO.*