Background Previous research has linked solitary living to various adverse health outcomes, but its association with diabetic complications among individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) remains underexplored. We examined the risk of endstage kidney disease (ESKD) in individuals with diabetes living alone (IDLA).
Methods This population-based cohort study used the National Health Information Database of Korea, which included 2,432,613 adults with T2DM. Household status was determined based on the number of registered family members. IDLA was defined as continuously living alone for 5 years or more. A multivariable Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the association between living alone and the risk of developing ESKD.
Results During a median follow-up of 6.0 years, 26,691 participants developed ESKD, with a higher incidence observed in the IDLA group than in the non-IDLA group. After adjusting for confounding variables, the hazard ratio for ESKD in the IDLA group was 1.10 (95% confidence interval, 1.06 to 1.14). The risk of ESKD was particularly elevated in younger individuals, those without underlying chronic kidney disease, with longer durations of living alone, and with low household income. Adherence to favorable lifestyle behaviors (no smoking, no alcohol consumption, and engaging in regular exercise) was associated with a significantly lower risk of ESKD, with a more pronounced effect in the IDLA group.
Conclusion Living alone was associated with a higher risk of ESKD in individuals with T2DM. Tailored medical interventions and social support for IDLA are crucial for the prevention of diabetic complications.
Background Studies have reported a significant association between pregravid weight gain and the subsequent development of gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) in various populations. The current study aims to investigate this relationship using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database.
Methods We conducted a retrospective nationwide population-based cohort study, involving 159,798 women who gave birth between 2015 and 2017 and had undergone two national health screening examinations: 1 year (index checkup) and 3 years before (baseline checkup) their respective estimated conception date. Participants were categorized into five groups based on the extent of weight change between the two examinations: more than 10%, 5% to 10%, –5% to 5% (reference group), –10% to –5%, and more than –10%. The study assessed the association between pregravid weight change and GDM risk.
Results Among the 146,363 women analyzed, 11,012 (7.52%) were diagnosed with GDM. Multiple regression analysis revealed that women who gained 5% to 10% of their weight had a 12% increased risk of GDM (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06 to 1.17), while those who gained ≥10% had a 34% higher risk (aOR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.26 to 1.43). Notably, pregravid weight gain was particularly associated with GDM risk in non-obese or non-metabolic syndrome groups at index checkup.
Conclusion Pregravid weight gain showed a dose-dependent association with a higher risk of GDM. This association was more pronounced in non-obese individuals emphasizing the importance of minimizing pregravid weight gain for GDM prevention, even in non-obese women.
Kyuho Kim, Bongseong Kim, Kyuna Lee, Yu-Bae Ahn, Seung-Hyun Ko, Sung Hee Choi, Kyungdo Han, Jae-Seung Yun, on Behalf of the Committee of Public Relation of the Korean Diabetes Association
Diabetes Metab J. 2025;49(2):183-193. Published online March 1, 2025
Background Diabetes in older adults is becoming a significant public burden to South Korea. However, a comprehensive understanding of epidemiologic trends and the detailed clinical characteristics of older adults with diabetes is lacking. Therefore, we evaluated epidemiologic trends and the metabolic and lifestyle characteristics of diabetes in Korean older adults.
Methods We analyzed data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey to assess diabetes prevalence according to diabetes duration and lifestyle behaviors. In addition, we drew upon the National Health Information Database of the National Health Insurance System to assess physical activity levels, antidiabetic medication use, polypharmacy, medication adherence, and major comorbidities.
Results The absolute number of newly diagnosed cases of diabetes among older adults doubled over the past decade. Management rates of metabolic indicators were higher in older adults with diabetes compared to those without diabetes. The proportion of older adults with diabetes meeting the minimum recommended physical activity increased over the years. Compared to 10 years before, the use of dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor or sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor had increased, as had comorbidities such as dyslipidemia, dementia, cancer, heart failure, atrial fibrillation, and chronic kidney disease. Initial medication adherence was significantly lower in those with end-stage kidney disease or dementia, insulin use, high-risk alcohol use, and living alone. Continuing insulin use 1 year after diagnosis of diabetes was significantly higher in those who initiated insulin therapy at diagnosis, had retinopathy, were on triple antidiabetic medications, and had a history of cancer.
Conclusion Comprehensive management of metabolic indicators and physical activity is essential for older adults with diabetes. Improvements in prescribing guidelines, personalized management of age-related comorbidities, and individualized approaches that consider the heterogeneous nature of older adults with diabetes are desirable. Further research, such as high-quality cohort and intervention studies specific to older adults, is needed to establish evidence-based management for older adults with diabetes.
The Korean National Health Information Database (NHID), which contains nationwide real-world claims data including sociodemographic data, health care utilization data, health screening data, and healthcare provider information, is a powerful resource to test various hypotheses. It is also longitudinal in nature due to the recommended health checkup every 2 years and is appropriate for long-term follow-up study as well as evaluating the relationships between health outcomes and changes in parameters such as lifestyle factors, anthropometric measurements, and laboratory results. However, because these data are not collected for research purposes, precise operational definitions of diseases are required to facilitate big data analysis using the Korean NHID. In this review, we describe the characteristics of the Korean NHID, operational definitions of diseases used for research related to diabetes, and introduce representative research for diabetes-related diseases using the Korean NHID.
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Prevalence, Incidence, and Metabolic Characteristics of Young Adults with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus in South Korea (2010–2020) Ji Yoon Kim, Jiyoon Lee, Joon Ho Moon, Se Eun Park, Seung-Hyun Ko, Sung Hee Choi, Nam Hoon Kim Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2025; 49(2): 172. CrossRef
Jin Hwa Kim, Junyeop Lee, Kyungdo Han, Jae-Taek Kim, Hyuk-Sang Kwon, on Behalf of the Diabetic Vascular Disease Research Group of the Korean Diabetes Association
Diabetes Metab J. 2024;48(6):1084-1092. Published online November 1, 2024
Background This study aimed to provide updated insights into the incidence and management of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in Korean adults with diabetes.
Methods Using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service and Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, we analyzed the representative national estimates of CVD in adults with diabetes.
Results The age- and sex-standardized incidence rate of ischemic heart disease (IHD), ischemic stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) decreased from 2010 to 2019 in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). However, an increase in the incidence of heart failure (HF) was observed during the same period. Only 4.96% of adults with diabetes and CVD achieved optimal control of all three risk factors (glycemic levels, blood pressure, and lipid control). Additionally, high-intensity statin treatment rates were 8.84% and 9.15% in individuals with IHD and ischemic stroke, respectively. Treatment with a sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) or a glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA) was relatively low in 2019, with only 11.87%, 7.10%, and 11.05% of individuals with IHD, ischemic stroke, and HF, respectively, receiving SGLT2i treatment. Furthermore, only 1.08%, 0.79%, and 1.06% of patients with IHD, ischemic stroke, and HF, respectively, were treated with GLP-1RA.
Conclusion The incidence of most CVD (IHD, ischemic stroke, and PAD) decreased between 2010 and 2019, whereas the incidence of HF increased. The overall use of high-intensity statins, SGLT2i, and GLP-1RA remained low among individuals with T2DM and CVD.
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Big Data Research for Diabetes-Related Diseases Using the Korean National Health Information Database Kyung-Soo Kim, Bongseong Kim, Kyungdo Han Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2025; 49(1): 13. CrossRef
Background Limited data are available on the adverse effects of new-onset diabetes after transplantation (NODAT) in solid organ transplantation (TPL) other than kidney. This study aimed to identify the risk of complications associated with NODAT in recipients of kidney, liver, or heart TPL.
Methods Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, recipients of kidney, liver, or heart TPL between 2009 and 2015 were identified. The incidence of coronary artery disease (CAD), cerebrovascular accident (CVA), and malignancy was compared across groups with NODAT, pretransplant diabetes mellitus (DM), and without DM using Cox regression analysis.
Results A total of 9,632 kidney, liver, or heart TPL recipients were included. During the median follow-up of 5.9 years, NODAT independently increased the incidence of CAD (hazard ratio [HR], 2.46; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.39 to 4.30) and overall mortality (HR, 1.48; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.95) compared to the reference group even after adjustment for confounders; this was more prominent in kidney TPL than in liver TPL. The risk of CVA was significantly increased by pretransplant DM but not by NODAT in both kidney and liver TPL (HR, 2.47; 95% CI, 1.68 to 3.65; and HR, 3.18; 95% CI, 1.07 to 9.48, respectively). NODAT increased the risk of malignancy in the crude model, which lost its statistical significance after confounder adjustment.
Conclusion NODAT independently increases the risk of CAD and mortality after TPL, which is more evident in kidney recipients. There was no additional increased risk of CVA or malignancy with NODAT in solid organ TPL.
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Background The relationship between circulating lipid levels and the risk for heart failure (HF) is controversial. We aimed to examine this association, and whether it is modified by the duration of diabetes or treatment regimens in people with type 2 diabetes mellitus.
Methods Individuals (n=2,439,978) who underwent health examinations in 2015 to 2016 were identified from the Korean National Health Information Database. Subjects were categorized according to the duration of diabetes (new-onset, <5, 5–10, or ≥10 years) and number of antidiabetic medications. Incident HF was defined according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th Revision (ICD-10) code I50 as the primary diagnosis during hospitalization. The risk for HF was estimated using multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis.
Results During a median follow-up of 4.0 years, 151,624 cases of HF occurred. An inverse association between low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and incident HF was observed in the new-onset diabetes group, with an approximately 25% lower risk in those with LDL-C levels of 100–129, 130–159, and ≥160 mg/dL, compared to those with levels <70 mg/dL. However, J-shaped associations were noted in the long-standing diabetes group, with a 16% higher risk in those with LDL-C level ≥160 mg/dL, compared to those with levels <70 mg/dL. Similar patterns were observed in the relationship between total cholesterol or non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol and the risk for HF, and when subjects were grouped according to the number of antidiabetic medications instead of diabetes duration.
Conclusion Different associations between lipid levels and the risk for HF were noted according to disease progression status among individuals with diabetes.
Background We investigated the association between uterine leiomyoma (UL) and incident type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in young women.
Methods A nationwide population-based cohort study of 2,541,550 women aged between 20 and 40 years was performed using the National Health Information Database. Cox proportional hazards models were used to analyze the risk of incident T2DM according to the presence of UL and myomectomy.
Results The mean age was 29.70 years, and mean body mass index was 21.31 kg/m2. Among 2,541,550 participants, 18,375 (0.72%) women had UL. During a median 7.45 years of follow-up, 23,829 women (0.94%) were diagnosed with T2DM. The incidence of T2DM in women with UL (1.805/1,000 person-years) was higher than in those without UL (1.289/1,000 person-years). Compared with women without UL, women with UL had a higher risk of incident T2DM (hazard ratio, 1.216; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.071 to 1.382). Women with UL who did not undergo myomectomy had a 1.505 times (95% CI, 1.297 to 1.748) higher risk for incident T2DM than women without UL. However, women with UL who underwent myomectomy did not have increased risk for incident T2DM.
Conclusion Young women with UL were associated with a high risk of incident T2DM. In addition, myomectomy seemed to attenuate the risk for incident T2DM in young women with UL.
Due to increased life expectancy and lifestyle changes, the prevalence of diabetes among the elderly in Korea is continuously rising, as is the associated public health burden. Diabetes management in elderly patients is complicated by age-related physiological changes, sarcopenia characterized by loss of muscle mass and function, comorbidities, and varying levels of functional, cognitive, and mobility abilities that lead to frailty. Moreover, elderly patients with diabetes frequently face multiple chronic conditions that elevate their risk of cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and mortality; they are also prone to complications such as hyperglycemic hyperosmolar state, diabetic ketoacidosis, and severe hypoglycemia. This review examines the characteristics of and management approaches for diabetes in the elderly, and advocates for a comprehensive yet personalized strategy.
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Diabetes Fact Sheets in Korea 2024 Se Eun Park, Seung-Hyun Ko, Ji Yoon Kim, Kyuho Kim, Joon Ho Moon, Nam Hoon Kim, Kyung Do Han, Sung Hee Choi, Bong Soo Cha Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2025; 49(1): 24. CrossRef
The effect of multidisciplinary team and experience-based co-design on the care of older adult patients with type 2 diabetes: A randomized controlled trial Yujun Zhuang, Hongjiang Ye, Xiaoyan Yang, Lifang Zheng, Zhizhen Chen, Jianjia Jiang, Lunpan Mou, Pingping Li, Jiawei Qin, Yaduan Dai, Yanling Mao Diabetes Research and Clinical Practice.2025; 221: 112028. CrossRef
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So Hee Park, You-Bin Lee, Kyu-na Lee, Bongsung Kim, So Hyun Cho, So Yoon Kwon, Jiyun Park, Gyuri Kim, Sang-Man Jin, Kyu Yeon Hur, Kyungdo Han, Jae Hyeon Kim
Diabetes Metab J. 2024;48(2):290-301. Published online January 3, 2024
Background We aimed to identify the risk of incident depression according to cumulative exposure to a low-household income status in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods For this retrospective longitudinal population-based cohort study, we used Korean National Health Insurance Service data from 2002 to 2018. Risk of depression was assessed according to cumulative exposure to low-household income status (defined as Medical Aid registration) during the previous 5 years among adults (aged ≥20 years) with T2DM and without baseline depression who underwent health examinations from 2009 to 2012 (n=2,027,317).
Results During an average 6.23 years of follow-up, 401,175 incident depression cases occurred. Advance in cumulative number of years registered for medical aid during the previous 5 years from baseline was associated with an increased risk of depression in a dose-dependent manner (hazard ratio [HR], 1.44 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.38 to 1.50]; HR, 1.40 [95% CI, 1.35 to 1.46]; HR, 1.42, [95% CI, 1.37 to 1.48]; HR, 1.46, [95% CI, 1.40 to 1.53]; HR, 1.69, [95% CI, 1.63 to 1.74] in groups with 1 to 5 exposed years, respectively). Insulin users exposed for 5 years to a low-household income state had the highest risk of depression among groups categorized by insulin use and duration of low-household income status.
Conclusion Cumulative duration of low-household income status, defined as medical aid registration, was associated with an increased risk of depression in a dose-response manner in individuals with T2DM.
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Background We explored the risk of death from pneumonia according to cumulative duration in low household income state (LHIS) among adults with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM).
Methods Using Korean National Health Insurance Service data (2002 to 2018), the hazards of mortality from pneumonia were analyzed according to duration in LHIS (being registered to Medical Aid) during the 5 years before baseline (0, 1–4, and 5 years) among adults with T2DM who underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012 (n=2,503,581). Hazards of outcomes were also compared in six groups categorized by insulin use and duration in LHIS.
Results During a median 7.18 years, 12,245 deaths from pneumonia occurred. Individuals who had been exposed to LHIS had higher hazards of death from pneumonia in a dose-response manner (hazard ratio [HR], 1.726; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.568 to 1.899 and HR, 4.686; 95% CI, 3.948 to 5.562 in those exposed for 1–4 and 5 years, respectively) compared to the non-exposed reference. Insulin users exposed for 5 years to LHIS exhibited the highest outcome hazard among six groups categorized by insulin use and duration in LHIS.
Conclusion Among adults with T2DM, cumulative duration in LHIS may predict increased risks of mortality from pneumonia in a graded dose-response manner. Insulin users with the longest duration in LHIS might be the group most vulnerable to death from pneumonia among adults with T2DM.
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Background Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a risk factor for hospitalization for heart failure (HHF). DKD could be classified into four phenotypes by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR, normal vs. low) and proteinuria (PU, negative vs. positive). Also, the phenotype often changes dynamically. This study examined HHF risk according to the DKD phenotype changes across 2-year assessments.
Methods The study included 1,343,116 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) from the Korean National Health Insurance Service database after excluding a very high-risk phenotype (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2) at baseline, who underwent two cycles of medical checkups between 2009 and 2014. From the baseline and 2-year eGFR and PU results, participants were divided into 10 DKD phenotypic change categories.
Results During an average of 6.5 years of follow-up, 7,874 subjects developed HHF. The cumulative incidence of HHF from index date was highest in the eGFRlowPU– phenotype, followed by eGFRnorPU+ and eGFRnorPU–. Changes in DKD phenotype differently affect HHF risk. When the persistent eGFRnorPU– category was the reference, hazard ratios for HHF were 3.10 (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.73 to 3.52) in persistent eGFRnorPU+ and 1.86 (95% CI, 1.73 to 1.99) in persistent eGFRlowPU–. Among altered phenotypes, the category converted to eGFRlowPU+ showed the highest risk. In the normal eGFR category at the second examination, those who converted from PU– to PU+ showed a higher risk of HHF than those who converted from PU+ to PU–.
Conclusion Changes in DKD phenotype, particularly with the presence of PU, are more likely to reflect the risk of HHF, compared with DKD phenotype based on a single time point in patients with T2DM.
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Background Body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for the type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and T2DM accompanies various complications, such as fractures. We investigated the effects of BMI and T2DM on fracture risk and analyzed whether the association varied with fracture locations.
Methods This study is a nationwide population-based cohort study that included all people with T2DM (n=2,746,078) who received the National Screening Program during 2009–2012. According to the anatomical location of the fracture, the incidence rate and hazard ratio (HR) were analyzed by dividing it into four categories: vertebra, hip, limbs, and total fracture.
Results The total fracture had higher HR in the underweight group (HR, 1.268; 95% CI, 1.228 to 1.309) and lower HR in the obese group (HR, 0.891; 95% CI, 0.882 to 0.901) and the morbidly obese group (HR, 0.873; 95% CI, 0.857 to 0.89), compared to reference (normal BMI group). Similar trends were observed for HR of vertebra fracture. The risk of hip fracture was most prominent, the risk of hip fracture increased in the underweight group (HR, 1.896; 95% CI, 1.178 to 2.021) and decreased in the obesity (HR, 0.643; 95% CI, 0.624 to 0.663) and morbidly obesity group (HR, 0.627; 95% CI, 0.591 to 0.665). Lastly, fracture risk was least affected by BMI for limbs.
Conclusion In T2DM patients, underweight tends to increase fracture risk, and overweight tends to lower fracture risk, but association between BMI and fracture risk varied depending on the affected bone lesions.
Association of Body Mass Index and Fracture Risk Varied by Affected Bones in Patients with Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study (Diabetes Metab J 2023;47:242-54) Se-Won Lee, Kyungdo Han, Hyuk-Sang Kwon Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2023; 47(3): 439. CrossRef
Association of Body Mass Index and Fracture Risk Varied by Affected Bones in Patients with Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study (Diabetes Metab J 2023;47:242-54) So Young Park Diabetes & Metabolism Journal.2023; 47(3): 437. CrossRef
Effect of SGLT2 inhibitors on fractures, BMD, and bone metabolism markers in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: a systematic review and meta-analysis Xin Wang, Fengyi Zhang, Yufeng Zhang, Jiayi Zhang, Yingli Sheng, Wenbo Wang, Yujie Li Osteoporosis International.2023; 34(12): 2013. CrossRef