Journal List > Korean Diabetes J > v.32(4) > 1002239

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Eom, Yang, Oh, Lee, Lee, Kim, Lee, Im, Yim, Oh, Nam, and Park: Association of Educational Level and Socioeconomic Status with Glucose Metabolism
Original Article
Korean Diabetes Journal

Korean Diabetes Journal 2008; 32(4): 377-385.

Published online: 31 August 2008

DOI: https://doi.org/10.4093/kdj.2008.32.4.377

Association of Educational Level and Socioeconomic Status with Glucose Metabolism

Young Sil Eom, Sun Mee Yang, Pyung Chun Oh, Jung Hyun Lee, Ki Young Lee, Yeun Sun Kim, Sihoon Lee, Jung Soo Im1, Jun Yim1, Dae Kyu Oh1, Moon Su Nam2, Ie Byung Park

Department of Internal Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Korea.

1Department of Preventive Medicine, Gachon University of Medicine and Science, Korea.

2Department of Internal Medicine, Inha University College of Medicine, Korea.

Received 16 June 2008       Accepted 7 August 2008

Copyright © 2008 Korean Diabetes Association

Abstract

Background

The objective of the present study was to examine the association of educational level and socioeconomic status with glucose metabolism including prediabetes.

Methods

This cross-sectional study subjects were 882 (mean age: 51.0 ± 13.4 years, M:F = 241:641) without diabetes, aged more than 20 years and residing in Whasu 2 dong in Incheon. We classified them into three levels according to their educational level: primary (illiterate or up to elementary school), secondary (middle school or high school) and tertiary (university), and into three levels according to their socioeconomic status by self reported questionnaire: low, middle and high. Subjects were diagnosed as three groups (normal, prediabetes and diabetes) by American Diabetes Association criteria using 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. The association of educational level and socioeconomic status with glucose metabolism was analyzed.

Results

The number of normal group was 300 (34.0%), that of prediabetes was 470 (53.3%) and that of diabetes was 112 (12.7%). In women, the proportion of primary educational group was larger than that of secondary educational group in diabetes (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.88; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.01-3.51) and larger than that of tertiary educational group in prediabetes ([OR] = 2.00; [CI]: 1.06-3.78). But socioeconomic status did not have the statistical association with glucose metabolism in women. Also both educational level and socioeconomic status had no statistical association with glucose metabolism in men.

Conclusions

The proportion of low educational level is larger in prediabetes and diabetes compared with normal group in women.

Keywords: Diabetes, Educational level, Prediabetes, Socioeconomic status

Figures and Tables

Table 1
Baseline characteristics according to glucose metabolism
kdj-32-377-i001

FBS, fasting blood sugar; HDL Chol., High density lipoprotein Cholesterol; No., number; PP2 BS., postprandial 2hr blood sugar; Total Chol., Total Cholesterol. Edu. Group 1 (Education group 1) = university; Edu. Group 2 (Education group 2) = high school or middle school; Edu. Group 3 (Education group 3) = up to elementary school or illiterate Exercise group = group. exercising over 30 minutes at a time and over 3 times per week with moderate or severe intensity; SES Group 1 (Socioeconomic group 1) = high economic status; SES Group 2 (Socioeconomic group 2) = middle economic status; SES Group 3 (Socioeconomic group 3) = low economic status. For each variable, the percentages reflect the total number of patients for whom data were available.

Table 2
Educational status distribution according to glucose metabolism
kdj-32-377-i002
Table 3
Socioeconomic status distribution according to glucose metabolism
kdj-32-377-i003

*P-value was analysed using Monte Carlo exact method due to small expected cell count.

Table 4
Adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of prediabetes for educational level and socioeconomic status in men and women after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, family history of diabetes, HDL cholesterol level, exercise, educational level and socioeconomic status
kdj-32-377-i004
Table 5
Adjusted ORs (95% CIs) of diabetes for educational level and socioeconomic status in men and women after adjusting for age, sex, BMI, blood pressure, family history of diabetes, HDL cholesterol level, exercise, educational level and socioeconomic status
kdj-32-377-i005

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