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

• Jung CH
• Son JW
• Kang S
• Kim WJ
• Kim HS
• Kim HS
• Seo M
• Shin HJ
• Lee SS
• Jeong SJ
• Cho Y
• Han SJ
• Jang HM
• Rho M
• Lee S
• Koo M
• Yoo B
• Moon JW
• Lee HY
• Yun JS
• Kim SY
• Kim SR
• Jeong IK
• Mok JO
• Yoon KH

• KMID: 2514069
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2020.0254

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

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  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.

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  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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