Factors Related to the Occurrence and Number of Chronic Diabetic Complications in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Utilizing The National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort in Korea, 2002~2015

Purpose: This study was performed to identify factors related to the occurrence and number of chronic diabetic complications in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.Methods: Data were extracted from the Korean National Health Insurance Service-National Health Screening Cohort from 2002 to 2015. Adults 30 years of age or older diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus and prescribed at least one diabetes medication were included. Statistical data analyses were performed using R version 3.5.1.Results: A total of 1,406 subjects were analysed in this study, of which 15.3% did not develop chronic diabetic complications. The most common first complications were eye (17.6%), peripheral vascular (16.7%), neuropathy (15.1%), and cardiovascular diseases (13.6%). Multivariable Cox regression analyses showed that female, older age, and higher body mass index were consistently associated with an increased risk of chronic diabetic complications. There were significant differences in gender, age, residential area, duration of diabetes, body mass index, smoking, and alcohol consumption according to the number of chronic diabetic complications.Conclusion: Female gender, older age, higher body mass index were consistently and significantly associated with the occurrence and number of chronic diabetic complications. Efforts to screen high risk patients and to manage the weight of type 2 diabetes patients are required. Future studies are needed to elucidate the relationship between chronic diabetic complications and recommended physical activity for weight management.