Risk of Stroke and Cardiovascular Disease According to Diabetes Mellitus Status

The purpose of this study was to investigate the importance of prevention and management of diabetes by analyzing stroke and cardiovascular disease (CVD) incidence among people with diabetes. This secondary analysis of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey Ⅶ (2016-2018) data included 15,039 adults. Diabetes status was significantly associated with sex, age, marital status, household size, education level, employment status, household income, hypertension, dyslipidemia, stroke, CVD, osteoarthritis, osteoporosis, kidney failure, depression, level of stress, smoking, drinking, body mass index, weight control, and the number of days of walking per week; however, it was not associated with rheumatoid arthritis. Stroke and CVD risk significantly increased in the presence of diabetes (by 4.123 times and 3.223 times, respectively). The incidences of stroke and CVD were significantly higher among participants with diabetes than among those without diabetes. Thus, preventing and systematically managing diabetes is crucial to reducing related complications and mortality.