Prevalence and incidence of infections among people with type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Abstract
Background Although evidence suggests a greater susceptibility of type 2 diabetes to infections, the prevalence and incidence of different types of infections vary greatly, affecting clinical decision-making. We aimed to estimate the aggregate prevalence and incidence of infections among people with type 2 diabetes. Methods We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library from inception to August 2025. We combined the terms type 2 diabetes, infection, and prevalence/incidence for the search. We included studies with data on infection prevalence (percentage) and/or incidence (number of person-years at risk) among patients with type 2 diabetes. We used the quality-effects model to estimate effects and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Results We included 70 studies in this meta-analysis. Severe periodontitis had the highest pooled prevalence among people with type 2 diabetes (33.6%; 95% CI = 23.7–44.2), followed by skin infections (28.6%; 95% CI = 20.7–37.2) and urinary tract infections (9.7%; 95% CI = 6.5–13.5). Lower respiratory tract infections had the highest pooled incidence per 10 000 person-years (1409.2; 95% CI = 1048.1–1894.6), followed by skin infections (664.1; 95% CI = 39.4–11203.9), upper respiratory tract infections (553.6; 95% CI = 12.7–24149.2) and urinary tract infections (500.6; 95% CI = 171.3–1462.6). Conclusions Among people with type 2 diabetes, the prevalence of severe periodontitis and the incidence of lower respiratory tract infections…
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