Empagliflozin is associated with lower cardiovascular risk compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in adults with and without cardiovascular disease: EMPagliflozin compaRative effectIveness and SafEty (EMPRISE) study results from Europe and Asia.

BACKGROUND: Studies that have reported lower risk for cardiovascular outcomes in users of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 Inhibitors (SGLT-2i) are limited by residual cofounding and lack of information on prior cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study compared risk of cardiovascular events in patients within routine care settings in Europe and Asia with type 2 diabetes (T2D) initiating empagliflozin compared to dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i) stratified by pre-existing CVD and history of heart failure (HF). METHODS AND RESULTS: Adults initiating empagliflozin and DPP-4i in 2014-2018/19 from 11 countries in Europe and Asia were compared using propensity score matching and Cox proportional hazards regression to assess differences in rates of primary outcomes: hospitalisation for heart failure (HHF), myocardial infarction (MI), stroke; and secondary outcomes: cardiovascular mortality (CVM), coronary revascularisation procedure, composite outcome including HHF or CVM, and 3-point major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE: MI, stroke and CVM). Country-specific results were meta-analysed and pooled hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) from random-effects models are presented. In total, 85,244 empagliflozin/DPP4i PS-matched patient pairs were included with overall mean follow-up of 0.7 years. Among those with pre-existing CVD, lower risk was observed for HHF (HR 0.74; 95% CI 0.64-0.86), CVM (HR 0.55; 95% CI 0.38-0.80), HHF or CVM (HR 0.57; 95% CI 0.48-0.67) and stroke (HR 0.79; 95% CI 0.67-0.94) in patients initiating empagliflozin vs DPP-4i. Similar patterns were observed among patients without pre-existing CVD and those with and without pre-existing HF. CONCLUSION: These results from diverse patient populations in routine care settings across Europe and Asia demonstrate that initiation of empagliflozin compared to DPP-4i results in favourable cardioprotective effects regardless of pre-existing CVD or HF status.

Association of prediabetes with death and diabetic complications in older adults: the pros and cons of active screening for prediabetes.

BACKGROUND: active screening can improve health outcomes for people with prediabetes. However, its efficacy in older adults remains uncertain. OBJECTIVE: the study aimed to analyse the progression from prediabetes to diabetes in older adults, including associated complications and mortality rates, to determine the benefits of active screening. DESIGN: retrospective cohort study. SETTING: Korean National Health Insurance Service claims database. SUBJECTS: a total of 36,946 adults aged ≥65 years who underwent national health examinations from 2006 to 2008. METHODS: follow-up was until 31 December 2015. Cox's proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for death and diabetic complications. RESULTS: over a median follow-up of 8.2 years, 19.3% of older adults with prediabetes progressed to diabetes. Compared with normoglycaemic adults, the multivariable-adjusted HRs (95% CI) for major adverse cardiovascular events were 1.01 (0.95-1.07), 1.08 (0.95-1.23), 1.14 (1.05-1.23) and 1.50 (1.35-1.68) in adults with prediabetes, newly diagnosed diabetes, diabetes not on insulin and diabetes on insulin, respectively. The corresponding HRs (95% CI) for diabetic retinopathy risk were 1.28 (1.15-1.43), 3.16 (2.71-3.69), 6.58 (6.02-7.19) and 9.17 (8.21-10.24). Diabetic nephropathy risk also significantly increased. CONCLUSIONS: progression from prediabetes to diabetes is an important concern among older adults. Prediabetes is associated with the risk of microvascular complications, but not cardiovascular complications and mortality. Therefore, active regular screening for prediabetes is necessary to prevent microvascular complications.

Effectiveness and safety of sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 inhibitors compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in older adults with type 2 diabetes: A nationwide population-based study.

AIM: To examine the real-world cardiovascular effectiveness and safety associated with sodium-glucose co-transporter-2 (SGLT2) inhibitor compared with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor treatment in older adults with type 2 diabetes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study, older adults with type 2 diabetes (aged ≥65 years) were identified in the Korean National Health Insurance Service database from September 2014 to December 2016. In total, 408 506 new users of an SGLT2 inhibitor or DPP-4 inhibitor were propensity score matched. Cox regression was used to estimate the hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for outcomes of interest: hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), all-cause death, myocardial infarction, stroke, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), bone fracture, severe hypoglycaemia, genital infection and urinary tract infection (UTI). RESULTS: Compared with DPP-4 inhibitors, new users of SGLT2 inhibitors had a lower risk of HHF (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.76-0.97), all-cause death (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.75-0.98) and stroke (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.77-0.97), but a similar risk of myocardial infarction (HR 0.95; 95% CI 0.77-1.19). The risks of DKA, bone fracture and severe hypoglycaemia were similar between both groups, although genital infection (HR 2.44; 95% CI 2.22-2.67) and UTI (HR 1.05; 95% CI 1.00-21.11) were more frequent among new users of SGLT2 inhibitors compared with DPP-4 inhibitors. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that initiation of SGLT2 inhibitors offers cardiovascular disease protection and can be used safely in older adults with type 2 diabetes.

Lower cardiorenal risk with sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors in patients with type 2 diabetes without cardiovascular and renal diseases: A large multinational observational study.

AIMS: We compared the new use of sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitor (SGLT2i) versus dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP4i) and the risk of cardiorenal disease, heart failure (HF) or chronic kidney disease (CKD), in patients with type 2 diabetes without a history of prevalent cardiovascular and renal disease, defined as cardiovascular and renal disease (CVRD) free, managed in routine clinical practice. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In this observational cohort study, patients were identified from electronic health records from England, Germany, Japan, Norway, South Korea and Sweden, during 2012-2018. In total, 1 006 577 CVRD-free new users of SGLT2i or DPP4i were propensity score matched 1:1. Unadjusted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) for outcomes: cardiorenal disease, HF, CKD, stroke, myocardial infarction (MI), cardiovascular and all-cause mortality. RESULTS: Baseline characteristics were well balanced between the treatment groups (n = 105 130 in each group) with total follow-up of 187 955 patient years. Patients had a mean age of 56 years, 43% were women and they were indexed between 2013 and 2018. The most commonly used agents were dapagliflozin (91.7% of exposure time) and sitagliptin/linagliptin (55.0%), in the SGLT2i and DPP4i, groups, respectively. SGLT2i was associated with lower risk of cardiorenal disease, HF, CKD, all-cause and cardiovascular mortality; HR (95% confidence interval), 0.56 (0.42-0.74), 0.71 (0.59-0.86), 0.44 (0.28-0.69), 0.67 (0.59-0.77), and 0.61 (0.44-0.85), respectively. No differences were observed for stroke [0.87 (0.69-1.09)] and MI [0.94 (0.80-1.11)]. CONCLUSION: In this multinational observational study, SGLT2i was associated with a lower risk of HF and CKD versus DPP4i in patients with type 2 diabetes otherwise free from both cardiovascular and renal disease.

Body mass index and cardiovascular outcomes in patients with acute coronary syndrome by diabetes status: the obesity paradox in a Korean national cohort study.

BACKGROUND: The "obesity paradox" has not been elucidated in the long-term outcomes of acute coronary syndrome (ACS). We investigated the association between obesity and cardiovascular (CV) outcomes in ACS patients with and without diabetes. METHODS: We identified 6978 patients with ACS aged 40-79 years from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort between 2002 and 2015. Baseline body mass index (BMI) was categorized as underweight (< 18.5 kg/m2), normal weight (18.5-22.9 kg/m2), overweight (23.0-24.9 kg/m2), obese class I (25.0-29.9 kg/m2), and obese class II (≥ 30.0 kg/m2). The primary outcome was major adverse CV events (MACE)-CV death, myocardial infarction (MI), and stroke. The secondary outcomes were the individual components of MACE, hospitalization for heart failure (HHF), and all-cause death. RESULTS: After adjustment for confounding variables, compared to normal-weight patients without diabetes (reference group), obese class I patients with and without diabetes had a lower risk of MACE, but only significant in patients without diabetes (with diabetes: hazard ratio [HR] 0.95, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.78-1.14; without diabetes: HR 0.78, 95% CI 0.62-0.97). Obese class II patient with diabetes had a higher risk of MACE with no statistical significance (HR 1.14, 95% CI 0.82-1.59). Underweight patients with and without diabetes had a higher risk of MACE, but only significant in patients with diabetes (with diabetes: HR 1.79, 95% CI 1.24-2.58; without diabetes: HR 1.23, 95% CI 0.77-1.97). CONCLUSION: In ACS patients, obesity had a protective effect on CV outcomes, especially in patients without diabetes.

Low plasma renin activity is an independent predictor of near-term incidence of hypertension in Asian populations.

BACKGROUND: Plasma renin activity is involved in the regulation of body salt content and blood pressure. However, there is a paucity of data regarding the association between low or high plasma renin activity and the development of hypertension. METHOD: We investigated the relation of baseline plasma renin activity to increases in blood pressure and the incidence of hypertension after four years in 2,146 non-hypertensive individuals from a community-based Korean population (mean age, 50 years), 58% of whom were women. We defined an "increase in blood pressure" as an increment of systolic blood-pressure ≥ 10 mmHg or initiation of antihypertensive drugs and defined "hypertension" as a systolic blood pressure of 140 mm Hg or higher, a diastolic blood pressure of 90 mm Hg or higher, or the use of antihypertensive medications. RESULTS: After 4 years, the increase in blood pressure had increased in 27.9% of the participants, and hypertension had developed in 17.9%. After adjustment, the lowest sex-specific tertile of plasma renin activity was an independent risk factor of an elevation in blood pressure (Adjusted Odds Ratio 1.37, 95% confidence interval 1.07-1.74, p = 0.011) and hypertension (Adjusted Odds Ratio 1.84, 95% confidence interval 1.36-2.50, p < 0.001) compared to the highest sex-specific tertile. The associations between the plasma renin activity and blood-pressure outcomes were evident in adults with especially high urine sodium excretion. CONCLUSION: Low plasma renin activity was associated with the development of hypertension in the middle-aged Asian population, especially in peoples with high sodium intake.

The Association of Adiponectin and Visceral Fat with Insulin Resistance and ß-Cell Dysfunction.

BACKGROUND: Obesity is a risk factor for metabolic abnormalities. We investigated the relationship of adiponectin levels and visceral adiposity with insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction. METHODS: This cross-sectional study enrolled 1,347 participants (501 men and 846 women aged 30-64 years) at the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center. Serum adiponectin levels and visceral fat were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry, respectively. Insulin resistance was evaluated using the homeostatic model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) and Matsuda insulin sensitivity index. ß-cell dysfunction was evaluated using the homeostatic model assessment of ß-cell function (HOMA-ß), insulinogenic index, and disposition index. RESULTS: Regarding insulin resistance, compared with individuals with the highest adiponectin levels and visceral fat mass < 75th percentile, the fully adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for HOMA-IR ≥ 2.5 and Matsuda index < 25th percentile were 13.79 (95% confidence interval, 7.65-24.83) and 8.34 (4.66-14.93), respectively, for individuals with the lowest adiponectin levels and visceral fat ≥ 75th percentile. Regarding ß-cell dysfunction, the corresponding ORs for HOMA-ß < 25th percentile, insulinogenic index < 25th percentile, and disposition index < 25th percentile were 1.20 (0.71-2.02), 1.01 (0.61-1.66), and 1.87 (1.15-3.04), respectively. CONCLUSION: Low adiponectin levels and high visceral adiposity might affect insulin resistance and ß-cell dysfunction.

Long-term patterns of fasting blood glucose levels and pancreatic cancer incidence.

BACKGROUND: Whether type 2 diabetes is cause or consequence, or both, of pancreatic cancer (PaC) remains unresolved. Leveraging repeated measurements of fasting blood glucose (FBG), we examined the temporal relationship between hyperglycemia and PaC incidence. METHODS: We conducted a nested case-control study of 278 cases and 826 matched-controls from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening Cohort. Over 11 years before index date (date of PaC diagnosis for cases), all participants had at least one FBG measurement in each of the three time windows: - 11 to - 8, - 7 to - 4, and - 3 to 0 years. Using conditional logistic regression, we estimated odds ratios(ORs) of PaC and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for hyperglycemia in the overall period and at each interval; for major long-term patterns of FBG across the three intervals (recent-onset, medium-term, and long-standing hyperglycemia). RESULTS: Higher FBG over the past 11 years was associated with an increased odds of PaC (p trend < .0001), with recent FBG more predictive of PaC than distant FBG. By FBG assessed in the - 3 to 0 interval, OR was 1.97 (95% CI 1.32-2.93) for 110-125 mg/dL and 3.17 (95% CI 2.09-4.80) for ≥ 126 mg/dL. By long-term patterns of FBG, compared to consistent normoglycemia, OR was 2.02 (95% CI 1.24-3.31) for long-standing hyperglycemia and 3.38 (95% CI 1.87-6.13) for recent-onset hyperglycemia. These associations were more pronounced among never-smokers than ever-smokers (p interaction = .06). CONCLUSION: Recent-onset hyperglycemia may be an early manifestation of undetected PaC, while long-lasting hyperglycemia may serve as a moderate etiologic factor for PaC.

The Association between Parameters of Socioeconomic Status and Hypertension in Korea: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

We investigated the association between socioeconomic status and hypertension in Korea, a country that has experienced a dynamic socioeconomic transition. We analyzed participants of a prospective cohort study-the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-enrolled between 2001 and 2003. We recruited 7,089 subjects who underwent a 4-year follow up till 2007. Education and income levels, which are important parameters for socioeconomic status, were stratified into 4 groups. Education level was defined as short (≤ 6 years), mid-short (7-9 years), mid-long (10-12 years), and long (≥ 12 years). Monthly income level was stratified as low (< 500,000 KRW), mid-low (500,000-1,499,999 KRW), mid-high (1,500,000-2,999,999 KRW) or high (≥ 3,000,000 KRW). At baseline, 2,805 subjects (39.5%) were diagnosed with hypertension. Education and income levels were inversely associated with the prevalence and incidence of hypertension (P < 0.001). In multivariate analysis, a shorter duration of education was significantly associated with a higher prevalence of hypertension (P < 0.001), but income level was not (P = 0.305). During the follow-up, 605 subjects (14.2%) were newly diagnosed with hypertension. In multivariate adjusted analysis, the hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for incident hypertension across the longer education groups were 0.749 (0.544-1.032), 0.639 (0.462-0.884), and 0.583 (0.387-0.879), compared with the shortest education group. There was no significant association between incident hypertension and income across higher income groups: 0.988 (0.714-1.366), 0.780 (0.542-1.121), and 0.693 (0.454-1.056), compared with the lowest income group. In conclusion, education and income levels are associated with the prevalence and incidence of hypertension, but only education is an independent prognostic factor in Korea.

Application of New Cholesterol Guidelines to the Korean Adult Diabetic Patients.

The American College of Cardiology and the American Heart Association (ACC/AHA) 2013 joint guidelines for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia expand the indications for statin therapy. This study was performed to estimate the numbers of diabetic patients indicated for statin therapy according to the Third Adult Treatment Panel (ATP-III) of the National Cholesterol Education Program guidelines and the new ACC/AHA guidelines in Korea. We analyzed the data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2012. Patients with diabetes over 30 yr of age were analyzed by the two guidelines. Of the total 1,975 diabetic patients, only 377 (19.1%) were receiving drugs for dyslipidemia. Among 1,598 patients who had not taken any medications for dyslipidemia, 65.6% would be indicated for statin therapy according to the ATP-III guidelines. When we apply the new guidelines, 94.3% would be eligible for statin therapy. Among the total diabetic patients, the new guidelines, compared with the ATP-III guidelines, increase the number eligible for statin therapy from 53.1% to 76.2%. The new guidelines would increase the indication for statin therapy for most diabetic patients. At present, many diabetic patients do not receive appropriate statin therapy. Therefore efforts should be made to develop the Korean guidelines and to ensure that more diabetic patients receive appropriate statin therapy.

Gender differences in the association between serum γ-glutamyltransferase and blood pressure change: a prospective community-based cohort study.

We evaluated the gender differences in the relation of baseline serum γ-glutamyltransferase (GGT) levels to blood pressure (BP) change during 4 yr. 4,025 normotensive subjects (1,945 men and 2,080 women) who aged 40-69 yr at baseline participated in the Ansung-Ansan cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study were included. The associations of GGT with baseline BP or 4-yr change of BP were evaluated. GGT levels were associated with systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at baseline after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, C-reactive protein (CRP), current smoking status and alcohol intake (SBP, ß=1.28, P<0.001; DBP, ß=1.41, P<0.001). GGT levels were also associated with 4-yr change in BP after adjusting for age, BMI, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, CRP, current smoking status, alcohol intake and SBP (SBP, ß=1.08, P=0.001; DBP, ß=0.64, P=0.003). This association was statistically significant in men (SBP, ß=1.82, P<0.001; DBP, ß=1.05, P=0.001), but not in women (SBP, ß=0.38, P=0.466; DBP, ß=-0.37, P=0.304). Remarkably, this association between GGT and BP was significant in men at 40-49 yr of age. In summary, we found positive associations between GGT levels at baseline and the change of BP. The relation of GGT level and the change of BP was only significant in men, not in women, which warrants further studies to elucidate the biologic mechanisms.

Changes in the Epidemiological Landscape of Diabetes in South Korea: Trends in Prevalence, Incidence, and Healthcare Expenditures.

Diabetes is a serious public health concern that significantly contributes to the global burden of disease. In Korea, the prevalence of diabetes is 12.5% among individuals aged 19 and older, and 14.8% among individuals aged 30 and older as of 2022. The total number of people with diabetes among those aged 19 and older is estimated to be 5.4 million. The incidence of diabetes decreased from 8.1 per 1,000 persons in 2006 to 6.3 per 1,000 persons in 2014, before rising again to 7.5 per 1,000 persons in 2019. Meanwhile, the incidence of type 1 diabetes increased significantly, from 1.1 per 100,000 persons in 1995 to 4.8 per 100,000 persons in 2016, with the prevalence reaching 41.0 per 100,000 persons in 2017. Additionally, the prevalence of gestational diabetes saw a substantial rise from 4.1% in 2007 to 22.3% in 2023. These changes have resulted in increases in the total medical costs for diabetes, covering both outpatient and inpatient services. Therefore, effective diabetes prevention strategies are urgently needed.

Financial Benefits of Renal Dose-Adjusted Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors for Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and Chronic Kidney Disease.

BACKGRUOUND: Dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP4) inhibitors are frequently prescribed for patients with type 2 diabetes; however, their cost can pose a significant barrier for those with impaired kidney function. This study aimed to estimate the economic benefits of substituting non-renal dose-adjusted (NRDA) DPP4 inhibitors with renal dose-adjusted (RDA) DPP4 inhibitors in patients with both impaired kidney function and type 2 diabetes. METHODS: This retrospective cohort study was conducted from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2018, using data obtained from common data models of five medical centers in Korea. Model 1 applied the prescription pattern of participants with preserved kidney function to those with impaired kidney function. In contrast, model 2 replaced all NRDA DPP4 inhibitors with RDA DPP4 inhibitors, adjusting the doses of RDA DPP4 inhibitors based on individual kidney function. The primary outcome was the cost difference between the two models. RESULTS: In total, 67,964,996 prescription records were analyzed. NRDA DPP4 inhibitors were more frequently prescribed to patients with impaired kidney function than in those with preserved kidney function (25.7%, 51.3%, 64.3%, and 71.6% in patients with estimated glomerular filtration rates [eGFRs] of ≥60, <60, <45, and <30 mL/min/1.73 m2, respectively). When model 1 was applied, the cost savings per year were 7.6% for eGFR <60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and 30.4% for eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2. According to model 2, 15.4% to 51.2% per year could be saved depending on kidney impairment severity. CONCLUSION: Adjusting the doses of RDA DPP4 inhibitors based on individual kidney function could alleviate the economic burden associated with medical expenses.

Lower Atrial Fibrillation Risk With Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors Than With Dipeptidyl Peptidase-4 Inhibitors in Individuals With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Accumulating evidence shows that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) reduce adverse cardiovascular outcomes. However, whether SGLT2i, compared with other antidiabetic drugs, reduce the new development of atrial fibrillation (AF) is unclear. In this study, we compared SGLT2i with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4is) in terms of reduction in the risk of AF in individuals with type 2 diabetes. METHODS: We included 42,786 propensity score-matched pairs of SGLT2i and DPP-4i users without previous AF diagnosis using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database between May 1, 2016, and December 31, 2018. RESULTS: During a median follow-up of 1.3 years, SGLT2i users had a lower incidence of AF than DPP-4i users (1.95 vs. 2.65 per 1,000 person-years; hazard ratio [HR], 0.73; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55-0.97; p=0.028]). In individuals without heart failure, SGLT2i users was associated with a decreased risk of AF incidence (HR, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.52-0.94; p=0.019) compared to DPP-4i users. However, individuals with heart failure, SGLT2i users was not significantly associated with a change in risk (HR, 1.04; 95% CI, 0.44-2.44; p=0.936). CONCLUSIONS: In this nationwide cohort study of individuals with type 2 diabetes, treatment with SGLT2i was associated with a lower risk of AF compared with treatment with DPP-4i.

Associations of updated cardiovascular health metrics, including sleep health, with incident diabetes and cardiovascular events in older adults with prediabetes: A nationwide population-based cohort study.

AIMS: To investigate the association of updated cardiovascular health (CVH) metrics, including sleep health, with the risk of diabetes and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) in older adults with prediabetes. METHODS: A total of 7,948 older adults with prediabetes aged ≥ 65 years were included in this study. CVH was assessed using seven baseline metrics according to the modified American Heart Association recommendations. RESULTS: During a median follow-up time of 11.9 years, 2,405 (30.3%) cases of diabetes and 2,039 (25.6%) MACE were recorded. Compared with the poor composite CVH metrics group, the multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) in the intermediate and ideal composite CVH metrics groups were respectively 0.87 (95% confidence intervals [CI] = 0.78-0.96) and 0.72 (95% CI = 0.65-0.79) for diabetes events and 0.99 (95% CI = 0.88-1.11) and 0.88 (95% CI = 0.79-0.97) for MACE. The ideal composite CVH metrics group had a lower risk of diabetes and MACE in older adults aged 65-74 years, but not in those aged ≥ 75 years. CONCLUSIONS: Ideal composite CVH metrics in older adults with prediabetes were associated with a lower risk of diabetes and MACE.

Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Obesity in Korean Adults.

BACKGRUOUND: This study aimed to investigate the association between consumption of ultra-processed foods (UPF) and obesity in Korean adults. METHODS: We included the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center cohort study baseline data of adults aged 30 to 64 years who completed a validated food frequency questionnaire. UPF was defined using the NOVA food classification. Multivariable linear and logistic regression analyses were performed to assess the association of dietary energy contribution of UPF with obesity indicators (body mass index [BMI], obesity, waist circumference [WC], and abdominal obesity). RESULTS: Consumption of UPF accounted for 17.9% of total energy intake and obesity and abdominal obesity prevalence was 35.4% and 30.2%, respectively. Compared with those in the lowest quartile of UPF consumption, adults in the highest quartile had greater BMI (ß=0.36; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.15 to 0.56), WC (ß=1.03; 95% CI, 0.46 to 1.60), higher odds of having obesity (odds ratio [OR], 1.24; 95% CI, 1.07 to 1.45), and abdominal obesity (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 1.14 to 1.57), after adjusting for sociodemographic characteristics, health-related behaviors, and family history of diseases. Dose-response associations between UPF consumption and obesity indicators were consistently found (all P trend <0.01). However, the strength of association was halved for all obesity indicators after further adjustments for total energy intake and overall diet quality score, and the trend toward association for obesity and WC disappeared. CONCLUSION: Our finding supports the evidence that consumption of UPF is positively associated with obesity among Korean adults.

Diet quality partially mediates the association between ultraprocessed food consumption and adiposity indicators.

OBJECTIVE: This study evaluated the potential role of overall diet quality in the associations between ultraprocessed food (UPF) consumption and adiposity indicators among Korean adults. METHODS: Baseline data of participants (n = 4331) of the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort study were obtained. Dietary information was collected by a validated food frequency questionnaire. UPF was defined using the NOVA classification. Overall diet quality was assessed using the Korean Healthy Eating Index. Adiposity indicators included BMI, waist circumference, percentage body fat by bioimpedance, and visceral fat mass by whole-body dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry. Mediation analysis after adjustment for potential confounders was performed. RESULTS: UPF intake was associated with higher adiposity indicators after adjustment for confounders. The mediating effect of the Korean Healthy Eating Index on the relationship between UPF consumption and each adiposity indicator was 35.6% (95% CI: 4.9% to 255.9%) for BMI, 38.3% (17.9% to 132.1%) for waist circumference, 40.2% (8.3% to 259.4%) for percentage body fat, and 60.7% (-396.4% to 662.7%) for visceral fat mass. CONCLUSIONS: UPF consumption was positively associated with adiposity indicators, which were partially attributed to the overall diet quality. Further studies are needed to better understand the causal mechanisms of these associations.

Diabetes screening in South Korea: a new estimate of the number needed to screen to detect diabetes.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) guidelines recommend adults aged ≥ 40 years and adults aged ≥ 30 years with diabetes risk factors for diabetes screening. This study aimed to determine the age threshold for diabetes screening in Korean adults. METHODS: This study was based on the analyses of Korean adults aged ≥ 20 years using the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) and the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC). To evaluate screening effectiveness, we calculated the number needed to screen (NNS). RESULTS: NNS to detect diabetes decreased from 63 to 34 in the KNHANES and from 71 to 42 in the NHIS-NSC between the ages of 30-34 and 35-39. When universal screening was applied to adults aged ≥ 35, the NNS was similar to that of adults aged ≥ 40. Compared to the KDA guidelines, the rate of missed screening positive in adults aged ≥ 20 decreased from 4.0% to 0.2% when the newly suggested screening criteria were applied. CONCLUSION: Universal screening for adults aged ≥ 35 and selective screening for adults aged 20 to 34, considering diabetes risk factors, may be appropriate for detecting prediabetes and diabetes in South Korea.

Long-term Effectiveness of the National Diabetes Quality Assessment Program in South Korea.

OBJECTIVE: This study examined the long-term effectiveness of the national diabetes quality assessment program (NDQAP) in diabetes. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: From the Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service database, 399,984 individuals with diabetes who visited a primary care clinic from 1 July 2012 to 30 June 2013 were included and followed up until 31 May 2021. The NDQAP included five quality assessment indicators: regular outpatient visits, continuity of prescriptions, regular testing of glycated hemoglobin and lipids, and regular fundus examination. Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for diabetes complications and all-cause mortality by the achievement of quality assessment indicators. RESULTS: During the mean follow-up duration of 7.6 ± 1.8 years, 20,054 cases (5.0%) of proliferative diabetic retinopathy (PDR), 6,281 end-stage kidney diseases (ESKD; 1.6%), 1,943 amputations (0.5%), 9,706 myocardial infarctions (MIs; 2.4%), 26,975 strokes (6.7%), and 35,799 all-cause mortality (8.9%) occurred. Each achievement of quality assessment indicator was associated with a decreased risk of diabetes complications and all-cause mortality. Individuals who were managed in high-quality institutions had a lower risk of PDR (HR 0.82; 95% CI 0.80-0.85), ESKD (HR 0.77; 95% CI 0.73-0.81), amputation (HR 0.75; 95% CI 0.69-0.83), MI (HR 0.85; 95% CI 0.82-0.89), stroke (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.84-0.88), and all-cause mortality (HR 0.96; 95% CI 0.94-0.98) than those who were not managed in high-quality institutions. CONCLUSIONS: In Korea, the achievement of NDQAP indicators was associated with a decreased risk of diabetes complications and all-cause mortality.

Impact of prolonged carbapenem use-focused antimicrobial stewardship on antimicrobial consumption and factors affecting acceptance of recommendations: a quasi-experimental study.

This study aimed to assess the impact of a prolonged carbapenem use-focused antimicrobial stewardship program (ASP) on antimicrobial consumption and clinical outcomes and to analyze factors affecting adherence to interventions. Patients prescribed carbapenems for ≥ 2 weeks received intervention. Interrupted time-series analysis was performed to compare antimicrobial consumption before and after intervention. Factors associated with non-adherence to intervention were investigated. Of 273 patients who were eligible for intervention, discontinuation or de-escalation was recommended in 256 (94.1%) and intervention was accepted in 136 (53.1%) patients. Before intervention, carbapenem consumption significantly increased to 1.14 days of therapy (DOT)/1000 patient days (PD)/month (P = 0.018). However, it significantly declined by - 2.01 DOT/1000 PD/month without an increase in other antibiotic consumption (P < 0.001). Factors affecting non-adherence to intervention were younger age (odds ratio [OR] = 0.98; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.96-1.00), solid organ malignancy (OR = 2.53, 95% CI 1.16-5.50), and pneumonia (OR = 2.59, 95% CI 1.08-6.17). However, ASP intervention was not associated with clinical outcomes such as length of hospital stay or mortality. Prolonged carbapenem prescription-focused ASP significantly reduced carbapenem consumption without adverse outcomes. Non-adherence to interventions was attributed more to prescriber-related factors, such as attitude, than patient-related factors including clinical severity.