Serum Ferritin Levels Are Associated with the Higher Risk of Diabetes Mellitus in Men and Post-menopausal Women, Based on the 2010-2012 KNHANES

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum ferritin and diabetes mellitus (DM) in the Korean population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study included 9,576 subjects (4,264 men, 2,394 pre-menopausal women, and 2,918 post-menopausal women) older than 19 years using data from the 2010-2012 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. DM was defined as fasting plasma glucose ≥126 mg/dL, glycosylated hemoglobin ≥6.5%, or use of any glucose-lower medication including insulin therapy. RESULTS: The overall prevalence of DM was 12.0, 3.6, and 17.3% in men, pre-menopausal women, and post-menopausal women, respectively. DM prevalence was greater with ferritin levels from Q1 to Q4 10.3, 10.2, 12.7, and 14.8% in men; 2.0, 2.8, 2.8, and 6.4% in pre-menopausal women; and 13.9, 14.4, 18.1, and 22.9% in post-menopausal women, respectively. Compared with participants in Q1, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for DM among participants in Q4 were 1.67 (1.20-2.32) in men, 2.06 (0.91-4.66) in pre-menopausal women, and 1.60 (1.09-2.35) in post-menopausal women after adjusting for age and other covariates. CONCLUSION: Serum ferritin concentration was positively associated with a higher risk of DM in adult men and post-menopausal women.