Factors Associated with the 4-year Estimated Incidence of Diabetes by Gender in Korean Adults: Secondary Data Analysis

다국어 초록 (Multilingual Abstract)

Aim(s): It is important to prevent the increase in the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) worldwide by efficiently managing its controllable risk factors. This study aimed to identify factors associated with the 4-year estimated incidence of DM by gender and provide basic data for a gender-specific strategic approach to lifestyle modification.

Method(s): In this study, we carried out a secondary data analysis using raw data from the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, 2016–2018). The KNHANES is a descriptive correlational survey designed to examine gender differences in the factors associated with the 4-year estimated incidence of DM. This study included 9,614 Korean adults (4,134 men and 5,480 women) aged 40-69 years without a diagnosis of DM. For statistical analysis, complex sample analysis was performed for gender comparison using χ2-test or one-way analysis of variance; multiple regression analysis was performed to analyze the gender-specific influencing variables of 4-year estimated DM incidence.

Result(s): The waist-to-height ratio, an indicator of central obesity in adults, had the strongest association with the 4-year estimated incidence of DM in both groups (M: β=0.33, p≤0.001; F: β=0.38, p≤0.001). The influencing variables were monthly drinking rate (β=0.07, p≤0.001) and sleep time (β=-0.03, p<0.05) in men, and sedentary time in women (β=0.03, p<0.05). The overall explanatory power of these variables was 11.3% for men and 14.3% for women. Thus, significant gender differences were found in the 4-year estimated incidence of DM.

Conclusion(s): Therefore, intervention programs need to be gender-specific to enhance the efficacy of the interventions in reducing the incidence of DM, and such intervention programs should be administered with a strategic approach differentiated by gender.