김주연1, 강희택1,2, 이용제3, 김진영1, 김태종1, 임형지1, 이재우1

1충북대학교병원 가정의학과, 2충북대학교 의과대학 가정의학교실, 3연세대학교 의과대학 강남세브란스병원 가정의학과

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.
Korean J Health Promot 2017;17(2):47-53
Keywords: Diabetes mellitus, Ferritin, Insulin resistance