Cultura: International Journal of Philosophy of Culture and Axiology

Vol. 21 No. 6s (2024): Volume 21, Number 6s – 2024
Original Article

Risk Factors Of Diabetic Complications Among Patients With Diabetes Mellitus In The Kingdom Of Saudi Arabia: A Systematic Review

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  • Muna Suliman Alshareef, Nuha Tariq sharaf, Fayrouz talal sroji, Abdulrahman Saleh Alzilfi, Abdulwahid Abdulhadi Althagafi,
  • Khulud Hamed Alharbi, Hoda Jehad Abousada, Ahmed Yahya Haqawi, Renad Mehsen Solan, Majed Hassan Mathkur

Published 2024-06-10

Keywords

  • Diabetes mellitus; diabetic complications; risk factors; Saudi Arabia; retinopathy; nephropathy; neuropathy; cardiovascular disease.
Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Abstract

Background: Diabetes mellitus (DM) represents a major public health challenge in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA), with a high prevalence of microvascular and macrovascular complications contributing substantially to morbidity and mortality.
Objective: To systematically review the literature evaluating risk factors associated with diabetic complications among patients with DM in KSA.

Methods: A systematic search of PubMed/MEDLINE, Scopus, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar was conducted for studies published between 2000 and 2025. Observational studies conducted in Saudi populations reporting risk factors for diabetic complications were included. Due to heterogeneity, results were synthesized narratively.
Results: Evidence from regional and national Saudi studies indicates that poor glycemic control, longer duration of diabetes, hypertension, dyslipidemia, obesity, smoking, and older age are the most consistently reported risk factors for diabetic complications. Poor glycemic control and hypertension were strongly associated with both microvascular and macrovascular outcomes.

Conclusion: Diabetic complications in KSA are driven by largely modifiable risk factors. Strengthening early diagnosis, multifactorial risk factor control, and longitudinal data systems is essential to reduce the national burden of complications.

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