Diabetes Metab J.  2021 Jan;45(1):1-10. 10.4093/dmj.2020.0254.

Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea, 2020: An Appraisal of Current Status

Affiliations
  • 1Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Soonchunhyang University Bucheon Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Bucheon, Korea
  • 2Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Bucheon St. Mary’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Bucheon, Korea
  • 3Department of Internal Medicine, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 4Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Gangneung Asan Hospital, University of Ulsan College of Medicine, Gangneung, Korea
  • 5Department of Medical Informatics, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea
  • 6Department of Pediatrics, Ewha Womans University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 7Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Soonchunhyang University Gumi Hospital, Soonchunhyang University College of Medicine, Gumi, Korea
  • 8Department of Pediatrics, National Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 9Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Sejong General Hospital, Bucheon, Korea
  • 10Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Inha University School of Medicine, Incheon, Korea
  • 11Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Ajou University School of Medicine, Suwon, Korea
  • 12Department of Nursing, Gangnam Severance Hospital, Yonsei University, Seoul, Korea
  • 13Department of Nutrition, Seoul Metropolitan Government Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 14Department of Clinical Nutrition, Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Korea
  • 15Department of Social Work, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 16Department of Social Work, Kyung Hee University Hospital at Gangdong, Seoul, Korea
  • 17Department of Sports Medical Center, Inje University Ilsan Paik Hospital, Goyang, Korea
  • 18Sport Health Medicine Center, Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 19Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, St. Vincent’s Hospital, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Korea
  • 20Department of Nursing, Samsung Medical Center, Seoul, Korea
  • 21Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Kyung Hee University School of Medicine, Seoul, Korea
  • 22Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, the Catholic University of Korea, Seoul, Korea

Abstract

Background
This study aimed to investigate the recent prevalence, management, and comorbidities of diabetes among Korean adults aged ≥30 years by analyzing nationally representative data.
Methods
This study used data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2016 to 2018, and the percentage and total number of people ≥30 years of age with diabetes and impaired fasting glucose (IFG) were estimated.
Results
In 2018, 13.8% of Korean adults aged ≥30 years had diabetes, and adults aged ≥65 years showed a prevalence rate of 28%. The prevalence of IFG was 26.9% in adults aged ≥30 years. From 2016 to 2018, 35% of the subjects with diabetes were not aware of their condition. Regarding comorbidities, 53.2% and 61.3% were obese and hypertensive, respectively, and 72% had hypercholesterolemia as defined by low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) ≥100 mg/dL in people with diabetes. Of the subjects with diabetes, 43.7% had both hypertension and hypercholesterolemia. With regard to glycemic control, only 28.3% reached the target level of <6.5%. Moreover, only 11.5% of subjects with diabetes met all three targets of glycosylated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and LDL-C. The percentage of energy intake from carbohydrates was higher in diabetes patients than in those without diabetes, while that from protein and fat was lower in subjects with diabetes.
Conclusion
The high prevalence and low control rate of diabetes and its comorbidities in Korean adults were confirmed. More stringent efforts are needed to improve the comprehensive management of diabetes to reduce diabetes-related morbidity and mortality.

Keyword

Comorbidity; Diabetes mellitus; Hypercholesterolemia; Hypertension; Prediabetic state; Prevalence

Figure

  • Fig. 1. Estimated proportion of adults with diabetes according to (A) body mass index (kg/m2) and (B) abdominal obesity. Values are presented as percentage.

  • Fig. 2. (A) Total caloric intake and (B) excess caloric intake among people with diabetes, diagnosed diabetes, and without diabetes mellitus (DM).


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