Type 2 Diabetes in Urban and Rural Districts in Korea: Factors Associated with Prevalence Difference

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the urban-rural differences in the prevalence and associated factors with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Korean adults. A total of 1,060 adults >30 yr of age from urban (189 males and 331 females) and rural districts (219 males and 321 females) were recruited. Anthropometric measures, blood pressure, lipid profiles, and fasting and 2-hr after 75-g oral glucose load blood glucose were obtained. The crude- and age-standardized prevalence of T2DM was 15.4% and 14.5%, and 11.7% and 8.6% in urban and rural districts, respectively. Diabetic subjects were older and obese, and had a higher triglyceride level, and systolic blood pressure compared to non-diabetes in both population. Multivariate regression analysis revealed that older age, high triglyceride levels, central obesity, and hypertension were significantly associated with T2DM in both areas. Low monthly incomes were significantly associated with T2DM in urban population, while a family history of T2DM was significantly associated with T2DM in rural area. T2DM is more prevalent in urban than in rural population, and low economic status or genetic factor is differently associated with T2DM in both population, respectively.

Epidemiology of abnormal glucose metabolism in a country facing its epidemic: SAUDI‐DM study

“…21 However, this was not the case with the IFG men participants, while among the IFG women participants, it was found to be significantly higher after the age of 50 years, as it has been shown in many earlier studies that menopause confers a negative influence on glucose tolerance resulting in the increased risk of IGT by 6% for each year after menopause. 22 The research findings of various international studies, which prove the effect of urbanization 9,23,24 and income 25 on diabetes prevalence, match perfectly and remain consistent with the findings of this study. In this study, the effect of both urbanization and monthly income on diabetes prevalence was significantly higher in urban areas with the low or middle income participants but not with the higher income participants.…”

The Association between Parameters of Socioeconomic Status and Hypertension in Korea: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study

“…Education and income status are widely used as parameters to stratify SES in Korea as well as in worldwide (91011121314). Obesity is regarded as a key confounding factor for SES (15), and levels of obesity across SES were markedly heterogeneous and varied with gender and time (1617).…”

Comparison of Health Status in Primary Care Underserved Area Residents and the General Population in Korea

“…Several studies have revealed the significant association between urban residence and prevalence of hypertension and diabetes in Korea. 9,11,12,21) Other studies have reported no significant differences in prevalence, awareness, or control of hypertension and diabetes between rural and urban areas. 10) Health disparities have been attributed to disparities in access and quality of health care.…”

“…9,10) Several studies on the prevalence, awareness, treatment, and control of hypertension and diabetes have shown different influences that can be attributed to rural residence. 9,[11][12][13] Studies evaluating health status in medically underserved areas (MUAs) in Korea are insufficient. 14) Health status reported from the previous studies may differ because rural areas are not always…”