Association of early-onset diabetes with socioeconomic, and health factors: a matched case-control study controlling for age, gender, and BMI

This study examines the link between early-onset diabetes and health factors in South Korean young adults (20–39) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010–2020).

A matched case-control study was conducted in 2022 with 103 patients with diabetes and 103 controls, matched by age, gender, and BMI. All data, including socioeconomic status (income, education, occupation), health behaviors (smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity), and medical histories, were extracted from the KNHANES database. We analyzed socioeconomic status, health behaviors, and medical histories using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and binary logistic regression.

The study revealed that educational attainment and economic status are substantial predictors of diabetes, with those holding only a high school diploma showing a nearly threefold increased risk compared to college graduates (OR = 2.986; 95% CI = 1.334–6.687). Additionally, participants with a higher number of chronic diseases (OR = 3.534; 95% CI: 1.547–8.073) and those who felt unwell in the past two weeks (OR = 4.010; 95% CI: 1.388–11.585) also demonstrated significantly increased odds of diabetes. And having a parent with diabetes was an exceptionally strong predictor, with these participants having a significantly increased risk of diabetes (OR = 47.022; 95% CI = 4.206–525.704).

The study emphasizes that improving educational and economic conditions, coupled with targeted screening programs for individuals with a family history of diabetes, may be effective in curbing the tide of early-onset diabetes in South Korea. These strategies may have profound implications for public health policies aimed at mitigating the risk in this increasingly vulnerable group.