J Korean Med Assoc.  2008 Sep;51(9):791-798. 10.5124/jkma.2008.51.9.791.

The Present State of Diabetes Mellitus in Korea

• Kim SG
• Choi DS

• KMID: 2185956
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5124/jkma.2008.51.9.791

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus has approached to us as a social epidemic in Korea. The prevalence of diabetes in Korea has increased five to six-fold from 1.5% to 7~9% during the past 30 years. This increasing rate is remarkably high in comparison with those of developed countries such as the USA- doubled during the past 30 years. In addition, diabetic complication is very common in Korean diabetic patients. For example, a total of 70.5% among new patients who were started with renal replacement therapy had diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, diabetes-related mortality has rapidly increased over the last 20 years. The age-sex adjusted mortality rate of diabetic patients was about three-fold higher than those of general population. As a result, medical cost of diabetes mellitus covered by the national health insurance corporation was 3.2 trillion won and accounted for 19.2% of all medical costs. On the other hand, the rate of awareness and treatment in diabetic patients has improved from 1998 to 2005. However, the proportion of adequate glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) among the treated diabetic patients was only 40%. The comprehensive and integrated health intervention including public approach is urgently needed to control the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its related undesirable outcomes.

Keyword

Diabetes mellitus; Prevalence; Epidemic; Medical cost; Korea

MeSH Terms

Developed Countries
Diabetes Complications
Diabetes Mellitus
Hand
Humans
Korea
National Health Programs
Prevalence
Renal Replacement Therapy

Figure

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  Figure 1 Numbers of people with diabetes (in millions) for 2000 and 2010 (top and middle values, respectively), and the percentage increase. Adopted from Ref 9.

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  Figure 2 The proportion of adequate glycemic control in the United State, European Union and Korea. 1Koro CE, et al. Diabetes Care 2004; 27:17-20. 2Liebl A. Diabetologia 2002; 45: S23-S28. 3Adopted from Ref 3.

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