Diabetes & Metabolism Journal · 2018 · 302 citations · 60 references
MedicineEndocrinologyInternal MedicineDiabetologyHuman NutritionNutritional EpidemiologyDiabetes ControlDiabetes MellitusGlycemic ControlDiabetes DiagnosisDiabetes Mellitus AssessmentDiabetes-related ComplicationsFasting Plasma Glucose ScreeningImpaired Glucose ToleranceLaboratory Plasma Glucose TestingSubjects
Diabetes is a major public health threat in Korea, yet only 43.5 % of patients achieve HbA1c < 7 % and 23.3 % reach < 6.5 %, indicating widespread poor glycemic control. This report evaluates the current prevalence, comorbidities, and awareness of diabetes in Korea and calls for comprehensive strategies to mitigate the growing disease burden. Using 2013–2014 KNHANES data, the authors estimated national prevalence by applying diagnostic criteria of fasting glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL, HbA1c ≥ 6.5 %, medication use, or history, and defined IFG as 100–125 mg/dL, then extrapolated to the 2014 census. Among adults ≥ 30 years, 13.7 % (≈.
This report presents the recent prevalence and comorbidities related to diabetes in Korea by analyzing the nationally representative data.Using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey for 2013 to 2014, the percentages and the total number of subjects over the age of 30 years with diabetes and prediabetes were estimated and applied to the National Population Census in 2014. Diagnosis of diabetes was based on fasting plasma glucose (≥126 mg/dL), current taking of antidiabetic medication, history of previous diabetes, or glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) ≥6.5%. Impaired fasting glucose (IFG) was defined by fasting plasma glucose in the range of 100 to 125 mg/dL among those without diabetes.About 4.8 million (13.7%) Korean adults (≥30 years old) had diabetes, and about 8.3 million (24.8%) Korean adults had IFG. However, 29.3% of the subjects with diabetes are not aware of their condition. Of the subjects with diabetes, 48.6% and 54.7% were obese and hypertensive, respectively, and 31.6% had hypercholesterolemia. Although most subjects with diabetes (89.1%) were under medical treatment, and mostly being treated with oral hypoglycemic agents (80.2%), 10.8% have remained untreated. With respect to overall glycemic control, 43.5% reached the target of HbA1c <7%, whereas 23.3% reached the target when the standard was set to HbA1c <6.5%, according to the Korean Diabetes Association guideline.Diabetes is a major public health threat in Korea, but a significant proportion of adults were not controlling their illness. We need comprehensive approaches to overcome the upcoming diabetes-related disease burden in Korea.
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