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. 2022 May;46(3):417-426.
doi: 10.4093/dmj.2022.0106. Epub 2022 May 25.

Diabetes Fact Sheet in Korea 2021

Jae Hyun Bae #  1 , Kyung-Do Han #  2 , Seung-Hyun Ko  3 , Ye Seul Yang  4 , Jong Han Choi  5 , Kyung Mook Choi  6 , Hyuk-Sang Kwon  7 , Kyu Chang Won  8
Affiliations

Diabetes Fact Sheet in Korea 2021

Jae Hyun Bae et al. Diabetes Metab J. 2022 May.

Abstract

Background: This study aimed to investigate the prevalence and management of diabetes mellitus, risk-factor control, and comorbidities among Korean adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess the prevalence, treatment, risk factors, comorbidities, and self-management behaviors of diabetes mellitus from 2019 to 2020. We also analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service to evaluate the use of antidiabetic medications in people with diabetes mellitus from 2002 through 2018.

Results: Among Korean adults aged 30 years or older, the estimated prevalence of diabetes mellitus was 16.7% in 2020. From 2019 through 2020, 65.8% of adults with diabetes mellitus were aware of the disease and treated with antidiabetic medications. The percentage of adults with diabetes mellitus who achieved glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) <6.5% was 24.5% despite the increased use of new antidiabetic medications. We found that adults with diabetes mellitus who achieved all three goals of HbA1c <6.5%, blood pressure (BP) <140/85 mm Hg, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol <100 mg/dL were 9.7%. The percentage of self-management behaviors was lower in men than women. Excess energy intake was observed in 16.7% of adults with diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion: The prevalence of diabetes mellitus among Korean adults remained high. Only 9.7% of adults with diabetes mellitus achieved all glycemic, BP, and lipid controls from 2019 to 2020. Continuous evaluation of national diabetes statistics and a national effort to increase awareness of diabetes mellitus and improve comprehensive diabetes care are needed.

Keywords: Comorbidity; Diabetes mellitus; Disease management; Health behavior; Prevalence; Republic of Korea; Risk factors.

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Conflict of interest statement

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST

Seung-Hyun Ko has been executive editor of the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal since 2022. Kyung Mook Choi has been editor-in-chief of the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal since 2022. Kyu Chang Won has been the publisher of the Diabetes & Metabolism Journal since 2022. They were not involved in the review process of this article. Otherwise, there was no conflict of interest.

Figures

Fig. 1.
Fig. 1.
Diabetes treatment among adult Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) participants with (A) diabetes mellitus and (B) previously diagnosed diabetes mellitus, 2019 to 2020.
Fig. 2.
Fig. 2.
Trends in the use of antidiabetic medications in adults with diabetes mellitus from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) data, 2002 to 2018. SGLT2i, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor; GLP-1 RA, glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist; DPP-4i, dipeptidyl pepdiase-4 inhibitor; TZD, thiazolidinedione; AGI, α-glucosidase inhibitor; SU, sulfonylurea; GLN, glinide.
None
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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