Diabetes Fact Sheet in Korea 2021

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.

Current Trends of Big Data Research Using the Korean National Health Information Database

“…The representative national estimates of diabetes in Korea can be analyzed using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the Korea NHID [ 34 ]. Among Korean adults aged ≥30 years, the estimated prevalence of diabetes was 16.7% in 2020.…”

“…There was a steady decrease in the use of sulfonylureas/glinides, from 84% in 2002 to 43% in 2018. The use of insulin and thiazolidinediones remained stable from 2002 to 2018 [ 34 ].…”

Blood Pressure Target in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

“…It is estimated that this number will increase to 783 million by 2045 according to the International Diabetes Federation Diabetes Atlas [ 1 ]. The prevalence of diabetes mellitus has also consistently increased in the last 7 years in Korea, with an estimated prevalence of 16.7% in 2020 [ 2 ]. Diabetes mellitus is a well-established modifiable risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) [ 3 - 6 ] and ranks among the top 10 leading causes of disability-adjusted life-years [ 7 ].…”

“…According to the Korean hypertension fact sheet 2020, 26% of all hypertensive patients >20 years of age received diabetes mellitus treatment together [ 9 ]. In addition, 58.6% of patients with adult diabetes mellitus have hypertension, and only 55.5% of them have hypertension controlled with a BP of 140/85 mm Hg according to the Diabetes Fact Sheet in Korea 2021 [ 2 ]. Since uncontrolled high BP is an important risk factor for heart failure (HF), atrial fibrillation, chronic kidney disease, valvular heart disease, dementia, coronary heart disease (CHD), and stroke, it is necessary to properly control BP [ 3 , 10 ].…”

Analysis of the Association between Metabolic Syndrome and Renal Function in Middle-Aged Patients with Diabetes

“…Changes in eating habits and lifestyle have contributed to the continued increase in the number of patients with obesity, and the number of patients with diabetes is increasing accordingly. The total number of registered patients with diabetes in 2020 indicates a very high prevalence of diabetes (10.7%); however, the glycemic control rate, which is defined as a glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) level of <6.5, was only 24.1% [ 1 ]. Following Mexico and Turkey, South Korea has the third highest diabetes-related mortality rate among the countries of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development [ 2 ].…”