Eighteen-Year Trends in Korean Diabetic Patients(1981 through 1998)

Lee, Hyejin; Han, Kyung Ah; Min, Kyung Wan; Kim, Eung Jin

Abstract

BACKGROUND: This study was conducted to determine trends in the age, gender, body mass index(BMI), and fasting blood glucose of the diagnosed Korean diabetic patients.
METHODS
The medical records were obtained on 32,867 Korean diabetic patients who were treated at the Eulji Diabetes Center from 1981 to 1998. We investigated the age, gender, height, weight, BMI and fasting blood glucose. Regression analysis was used to analyze the time trends.
RESULTS
BMI(from 23.2kg/m2 to 24.1kg/m2, P<0.001) and weight(from 59.6kg to 61.9kg, P<0.001) were gradually increased over the 18 years. and these factors were still significant after correction for age. The age of onset(from 45year to 51year, P<0.001) was also increased over the 18 years. The fasting blood glucose level was decreased from 10.2 mmol/L to 7.2mmol/L P<0.001). The portion of male patients was significantly decreased over the 18 years(from 52.1% to 47.4%).
CONCLUSION
Over the 18years, the weight and BMI at the time of diagnosis were increased. And the onset age of diabetes was increased, according to an aging society. As it was easy to gain access the medical service, the fasting blood glucose level was decreased, and the prevalence of female patients was increased over 18 years in Korea