The Present State of Diabetes Mellitus in Korea.
10.5124/jkma.2008.51.9.791
- Author:
Sin Gon KIM
1
;
Dong Seop CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Internal Medicine, Korea Univerisity College of Medicine, Korea. k50367@korea.ac.kr, cdongs@kmuc.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
Diabetes mellitus;
Prevalence;
Epidemic;
Medical cost;
Korea
- MeSH:
Developed Countries;
Diabetes Complications;
Diabetes Mellitus;
Hand;
Humans;
Korea;
National Health Programs;
Prevalence;
Renal Replacement Therapy
- From:Journal of the Korean Medical Association
2008;51(9):791-798
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
Diabetes mellitus has approached to us as a social epidemic in Korea. The prevalence of diabetes in Korea has increased five to six-fold from 1.5% to 7~9% during the past 30 years. This increasing rate is remarkably high in comparison with those of developed countries such as the USA- doubled during the past 30 years. In addition, diabetic complication is very common in Korean diabetic patients. For example, a total of 70.5% among new patients who were started with renal replacement therapy had diabetes mellitus. Furthermore, diabetes-related mortality has rapidly increased over the last 20 years. The age-sex adjusted mortality rate of diabetic patients was about three-fold higher than those of general population. As a result, medical cost of diabetes mellitus covered by the national health insurance corporation was 3.2 trillion won and accounted for 19.2% of all medical costs. On the other hand, the rate of awareness and treatment in diabetic patients has improved from 1998 to 2005. However, the proportion of adequate glycemic control (HbA1c < 7%) among the treated diabetic patients was only 40%. The comprehensive and integrated health intervention including public approach is urgently needed to control the increasing prevalence of diabetes mellitus and its related undesirable outcomes.
