Association between Education Level and Diabetes in Korean Adults Over 30 Years Old: The Seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2017)

ABSTRACT

Background@#It has been reported that low education levels are associated with an increased prevalence of diabetes mellitus. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between education level and the prevalence of diabetes. @*Methods@#This study was based on the original data of the 7th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016–2017). In total, 4,819 adults over 30 years of age participated in this study, and multiple logistic regression analysis was used to derive the odds ratio and 95% confidence interval to assess the relationship between education level and diabetes. The influence of sex, age, obesity, depression, drinking, smoking, and occupation was analyzed to determine the net influence of education level on the prevalence of diabetes mellitus. @*Results@#The level of education and prevalence of diabetes were significantly correlated. When the level of education was high, the possibility of diabetes mellitus was higher than that in university graduates (odds ratios=1.836, P<0.05); however, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus was not significantly different from that in college graduates. The effect of correction variables on the prevalence of diabetes showed significant differences (P<0.05) in sex, age, obesity, and occupation. @*Conclusion@#There was a statistically significant association between the low level of education and the prevalence of diabetes mellitus in this study; therefore, active intervention for diabetes is required in people with low education.