Korean J Adult Nurs.  2022 Feb;34(1):39-50. 10.7475/kjan.2022.34.1.39.

Prevalence of Chronic Diabetic Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Retrospective Study Based on the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort in Korea, 2002~2015

• Lee H
• Lee M
• Park G
• Khang AR

• KMID: 2526694
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.7475/kjan.2022.34.1.39

Abstract

Purpose
This study aimed to identify the prevalence of chronic diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods
Data for adults aged over 30 years, who were diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and who had at least one claim for the prescription of antidiabetic medication were extracted from the National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort in Korea from 2002 to 2015. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.5.1.
Results
In total, 1,407 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus without complications were extracted from the database. Patients were observed for an average of 10.43 years. The prevalence of chronic diabetic complications was 84.7% and was significantly higher for patients who were older women, who lived in the capital, and had diabetes mellitus for a longer time. The prevalence of eye disease was the highest at 42.4%, and cerebrovascular disease was the lowest at 15.1%. Cardiovascular disease, peripheral vascular disease, neuropathy, and foot ulcers often occurred between two and four years, and eye disease and nephropathy often occurred over eight years after the diagnosis of diabetes. Prior to the occurrence of nephropathy, microvascular complications such as neuropathy, peripheral vascular disease, and eye disease occurred.
Conclusion
These findings provide compelling evidence of the prevalence of chronic diabetic complications based on a national database. Since a high incidence of diabetic complications occurs within a short period of time after the diagnosis of diabetes, aggressive interventions are required to prevent diabetic complications in the early stages after diagnosis.

Keyword

Incidence; Prevalence; Diabetes complications; Diabetes mellitus; Type 2; Retrospective studies