Korean J Nutr.  2008 Sep;41(6):502-509.

The Presence of Diabetes Mellitus and Anemia in Korean Adults-based on data from 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES III)

• Kim JH

Abstract

Anemia is common in Diabetes Mellitus (DM) with chronic kidney disease. Recent research suggests that DM itself also may be a risk factor of anemia even though kidney failure causes anemia. However, it has not been reported that the impact of DM on anemia in representative data of Korean population. A total of 5,417 Korean adults aged 20 years and older (2,328 men, 3,089 women) were selected from the participants of the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for this study. Anemia was defined as hemoglobin (Hb) < 13 g/dL and hematocrit (Hct) < 39% for men or Hb < 12 g/dL and Hct < 36% for women. DM was defined as a fasting blood glucose > or = 126 mg/dL. Korean adults with anemia had a higher prevalence of DM than in normal adults (11.4 vs 7.5%; p < 0.0001). The unadjusted odds ratio (OR) for anemia was greater in Korean men with DM than in normal men (OR = 4.25; 95% CI: 2.48-7.29). This results did not differ after adjustment for the putative risk factors for anemia including chronic disease (OR = 2.64; 95% CI: 1.45-4.83). However, the presence of DM was not related with anemia in Korean women. In conclusion, this study revealed that DM might be an independent risk factor for anemia in Korean men. Identification and management for anemia are needed in Korean population with DM as well.

Keyword

anemia; diabetes mellitus; Korean men

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aged
Anemia
Blood Glucose
Chronic Disease
Diabetes Mellitus
Fasting
Female
Hematocrit
Hemoglobins
Humans
Male
Nutrition Surveys
Odds Ratio
Prevalence
Renal Insufficiency
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic
Risk Factors
Blood Glucose
Hemoglobins