Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea 2024

Area of Science:

• Endocrinology
• Public Health
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Diabetes mellitus poses a significant public health challenge in Korea.
• Understanding its prevalence, management, and comorbidities is crucial for effective healthcare strategies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence, management, and comorbidities of diabetes mellitus in Korean adults.
• To compare diabetes care and outcomes between young and older adult populations.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2022).
• Assessment of diabetes prevalence, treatment adherence, risk factors, and comorbidities.
• Stratified analysis comparing young (19-39 years) and older (≥65 years) adults with diabetes.

Main Results:

• Overall diabetes prevalence among Korean adults (≥30 years) was 15.5% (2021-2022), with only 15.9% meeting integrated management targets.
• Young adults (19-39 years) had a 2.2% diabetes prevalence, marked by low awareness (43.3%), treatment (34.6%), and control rates, alongside high obesity (87.1%).
• Older adults (≥65 years) showed higher prevalence (29.3%) but better awareness (78.8%) and treatment (75.7%) rates, though integrated management was suboptimal (40.1%).

Conclusions:

• Diabetes mellitus remains a significant health issue in Korea, with substantial deficits in comprehensive management of glycemic, blood pressure, and lipid levels.
• While older adults exhibit better awareness and treatment engagement, integrated outcomes are limited.
• Young adults with diabetes experience a high burden of obesity and comorbidities, coupled with low detection and treatment rates, underscoring the need for early, tailored interventions.