Cardiovascular Disease & Diabetes Statistics in Korea: Nationwide Data 2010 to 2019

Abstract

Backgruound: This study aimed to provide updated insights into the incidence and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Korean adults with diabetes.

Methods: Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service and Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we analyzed the representative national estimates of CVD in adults with diabetes.

Results: The age- and sex-standardized incidence rate of ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) decreased from 2010 to 2019 in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, an increase in the incidence of heart failure (HF) was observed during the same period. Only 4.96% of adults with diabetes and CVD achieved optimal control of all three risk factors (glycemic levels, blood pressure, and lipid control). Additionally, high-intensity statin treatment rates were 8.84% and 9.15% in individuals with IHD and ischemic stroke, respectively. Treatment with a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) or a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) was relatively low in 2019, with only 11.87%, 7.10%, and 11.05% of individuals with IHD, ischemic stroke, and HF, respectively, receiving SGLT2i treatment. Furthermore, only 1.08%, 0.79%, and 1.06% of patients with IHD, ischemic stroke, and HF, respectively, were treated with GLP-1RA.

Conclusion: The incidence of most CVD (IHD, ischemic stroke, and PAD) decreased between 2010 and 2019, whereas the incidence of HF increased. The overall use of high-intensity statins, SGLT2i, and GLP-1RA remained low among individuals with T2DM and CVD.

Keywords: Cardiovascular diseases; Diabetes mellitus; Epidemiology; Korea.

Fig. 1.

Trends in age- and sex-standardized incidence of cardiovascular disease among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus from 2010 to 2019 based on data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS). PAD, peripheral artery disease. aBased on data from the Korean NHIS National Sample Cohort.

Fig. 2.

Proportion of adults with diabetes and cardiovascular disease achieving target levels (2019–2021) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. HbA1c, glycosylated hemoglobin; LDL, low-density lipoprotein.

Fig. 3.

Statin prescription status among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease based on 2019 data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. (A) Ischemic heart disease. (B) Ischemic stroke.

Fig. 4.

Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) prescription status in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus and cardiovascular disease based on 2019 data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service. IHD, ischemic heart disease; HF, heart failure.

Fig. 5.

The prescription pattern of sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) and glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) according to population characteristics. (A, B, C) SGLT2i use according to age, sex, and chronic kidney disease (CKD) status, respectively. (D, E, F) GLP-1RA use by age, sex, and CKD status, respectively. IHD, ischemic heart disease; HF, heart failure.