Related Factors for Impaired Fasting Glucose in Korean Adults: A Population Based Study

Individuals with impaired fasting glucose (IFG) who have poor health behaviors are at a greater risk for various health outcomes. This study compared the health behaviors and health literacy between individuals with non-IFG and IFG; factors that were associated with IFG were identified by sex.

This study was an observational study with a cross-sectional design based on data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) that used a stratified, multi-stage, cluster-sampling design to obtain a nationally representative sample. This study analyzed the KNHANES Health Examination Survey and Health Behavior Survey from 2016 to 2018 (N=9919). Multiple logistic regression analysis was employed to compute the odds ratios of health behaviors and health literacy to identify the risk factors for IFG.

The prevalence of IFG among the total was 29.0% (weighted n=2826, 95% CI 27.8-30.2). In the IFG group, 63.6% were male and 36.4% were female (X²=320.57, p<.001). In multiple logistic regression by sex, the factors associated with IFG in male were as follows: age (50s; OR=2.36, 95% CI 1.79-3.13), high BMI (OR=2.27, 95% CI 1.78-2.90), frequent drinking (OR=1.83, 95% CI 1.23-2.72), and using nutrition fact labels (OR=1.35, 95% CI 1.05-1.75). Low economic status (OR=4.18, 95% CI 1.57-11.15) and high BMI (OR=2.35, 95% CI 1.29-4.28) were the affecting factors in female. On the other hand, employment status, perceived stress, and job type were not related to IFG in both male and female.

Strategies should be targeted to improve health behaviors and health literacy for those in their 40s and 60s, male in shift work, those who frequently dine out, overweight male, female with low economic statuses, and frequent drinkers. Moreover, healthcare providers should understand the barriers to health behaviors and literacy to effectively deliver healthcare service.