Age- and Sex-Specific Relationships between Household Income, Education, and Diabetes Mellitus in Korean Adults: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2008-2010

<div><p>Background</p><p>To investigate the effects of age and sex on the relationship between socioeconomic status (SES) and the prevalence and control status of diabetes mellitus (DM) in Korean adults.</p><p>Methods</p><p>Data came from 16,175 adults (6,951 men and 9,227 women) over the age of 30 who participated in the 2008-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. SES was measured by household income or education level. The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for the prevalence or control status of diabetes were calculated using multiple logistic regression analyses across household income quartiles and education levels.</p><p>Results</p><p>The household income-DM and education level-DM relationships were significant in younger age groups for both men and women. The adjusted ORs and 95% CI for diabetes were 1.51 (0.97, 2.34) and 2.28 (1.29, 4.02) for the lowest vs. highest quartiles of household income and education level, respectively, in women younger than 65 years of age (both <i>P</i> for linear trend < 0.05 with Bonferroni adjustment). The adjusted OR and 95% CI for diabetes was 2.28 (1.53, 3.39) for the lowest vs. highest quartile of household income in men younger than 65 (<i>P</i> for linear trend < 0.05 with Bonferroni adjustment). However, in men and women older than 65, no associations were found between SES and the prevalence of DM. No significant association between SES and the status of glycemic control was detected.</p><p>Conclusions</p><p>We found age- and sex-specific differences in the relationship of household income and education with the prevalence of DM in Korea. DM preventive care is needed for groups with a low SES, particularly in young or middle-aged populations.</p></div

Age- and sex-specific odds ratios (95% CIs) for diabetes mellitus according to socioeconomic status.

<p>Adjusted ORs (model 1) for diabetes were determined after adjusting for age, place, marital status, smoking, alcohol intake, and education level (across household income) or household income (across education level).</p><p>Adjusted ORs (model 2) for diabetes were determined by additionally adjusting for regular exercise, fat intake, and energy intake.</p><p>Adjusted ORs (model 3) for diabetes were determined by additionally adjusting for body mass index, hypertension, high triglycerides, and low HDL-cholesterol.</p><p>OR, odds ratio; CI, confidence interval.</p><p>Age- and sex-specific odds ratios (95% CIs) for diabetes mellitus according to socioeconomic status.</p

The prevalence of diabetes mellitus according to the level of household income in participants less than (A) or greater than (B) 65 years old and to the level of education in participants less than (C) or greater than (D) 65 years old.

<p>NS, non-specific.</p

Distribution of characteristics according to socioeconomic status in men.

<p>Values are means ± SE or percentages (SE).</p><p>Obtained by ANOVA for continuous variables and by chi-square test for categorical variables.</p><p>Distribution of characteristics according to socioeconomic status in men.</p

General characteristics of the study participants according to sex.

<p>Values are means ± SE or percentages (SE).</p><p>General characteristics of the study participants according to sex.</p