Diabetes Metab J.  2023 May;47(3):347-355. 10.4093/dmj.2022.0444.

Fatty Liver & Diabetes Statistics in Korea: Nationwide Data 2009 to 2017

• Han E
• Han KD
• Lee Yh
• Kim KS
• Hong S
• Park JH
• Park CY
• on Behalf of Fatty Liver Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association

• KMID: 2542512
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4093/dmj.2022.0444

Abstract

Background
This study investigated the changes of fatty liver disease prevalence in general Korean population.
Methods
This study analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service from 2009 to 2017 that included individuals aged 20 years or older who had undergone a medical health examination. Fatty liver disease was assessed using the fatty liver index (FLI). The disease severity was defined by FLI cutoff, ≥30 as moderate, and ≥60 as severe fatty liver disease.
Results
The prevalence of Korean adults aged 20 years or over with fatty liver disease (FLI ≥60) increased from 13.3% in 2009 to 15.5% in 2017 (P for trend <0.001). The increase in fatty liver disease prevalence was prominent in men (from 20.5% to 24.2%) and the young age (20 to 39 years) group (from 12.8% to 16.4%) (P for interaction <0.001). The prevalence of fatty liver disease was the highest in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM, 29.6%) population compared to that of prediabetes or normoglycemia (10.0% and 21.8%) in 2017. The prevalence of fatty liver disease had statistically increased in individuals with T2DM and prediabetes (P for trend <0.001). Its prevalence increased more steeply in the young-aged population with T2DM, from 42.2% in 2009 to 60.1% in 2017. When applying a lower FLI cutoff (≥30) similar results were observed.
Conclusion
The prevalence of fatty liver disease in the Korean population has increased. Individuals who are young, male, and have T2DM are vulnerable to fatty liver disease.

Keyword

Comorbidity; Diabetes mellitus, type 2; Epidemiology; Fatty liver; Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease

Figure

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  Fig. 1. Proportion of fatty liver disease in the general Korean population. (A) Overall, (B) men, and (C) women. P for interaction between sex and fatty liver disease (fatty liver index [FLI] ≥30) <0.001; P for interaction between sex and fatty liver disease (FLI ≥30 to <60) <0.001; P for interaction between sex and fatty liver disease (FLI ≥60) <0.001.

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  Fig. 2. The changes in the proportion of fatty liver disease in a population with type 2 diabetes mellitus. (A) Overall, (B) age 20 to 39, (C) age 40 to 64, and (D) age ≥65 years. P for interaction between age and fatty liver disease (fatty liver index [FLI] ≥30) <0.001; P for interaction between age and fatty liver disease (FLI ≥30 to <60)=0.321; P for interaction between age and fatty liver disease (FLI ≥60) <0.001.

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