Risk of Cardiovascular Disease according to Baseline Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level in Different Age Groups in Korean Diabetes Population: A Cohort Study

BACKGRUOUND

The association between low-density lipoprotein (LDL-C) levels and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk in different age groups within the diabetes mellitus (DM) population remains unclear. The cohort study was conducted to investigate this relationship.

METHODS

We assessed the 2009 to 2012 Korean National Health Screening and National Health Insurance Service records, with follow-up to the primary outcome (myocardial infarction [MI] or stroke) or December 2018. After excluding the participants with a history of MI or stroke, 2,227,394 participants with DM were included and categorized according to baseline LDL-C levels and age. Cox proportional hazards modeling was conducted. The CVD risk of age <40 years and LDL-C <70 mg/dL was set as the reference. In each age group, LDL-C <70 mg/dL was used as a reference for the subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

The cut-off LDL-C value for increased MI risk in each age group varied (<40 years old, LDL-C ≥160 mg/dL: hazard ratios [HR], 2.03; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.644 to 2.506) (40-49-year-old, LDL-C <115 mg/dL: HR, 1.245; 95% CI, 1.04 to 1.489) (50-59-year-old, LDL-C <115 mg/dL: HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.014 to 1.445) (60-69-year-old, LDL-C <145 mg/dL: HR, 1.229; 95% CI, 1.022 to 1.479) (≥70 years old group, LDL-C <100 mg/dL: HR, 1.238; 95% CI, 1.018 to 1.504). The cut-off LDL-C values for increased stroke risk varied in each age subgroup (<40 years old, LDL-C ≥160 mg/dL: HR, 1.395; 95% CI, 1.094 to 1.779) (40-49-year-old, LDL-C <145 mg/dL: HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 1.019 to 1.253) (50-59-year-old, LDL-C <160 mg/dL: HR, 1.079; 95% CI, 1.008 to 1.154) (60-69-year-old, LDL-C <130 mg/dL: HR, 1.07; 95% CI, 1.022 to 1.119) (≥70 years old, LDL-C <115 mg/dL: HR, 1.064; 95% CI, 1.019 to 1.112).

CONCLUSION

The effect of LDL-C on the risk of CVD differs depending on the age of the population with DM.

Real-World Treatment Patterns according to Clinical Practice Guidelines in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Established Cardiovascular Disease in Korea: Multicenter, Retrospective, Observational Study

BACKGRUOUND

Recent diabetes management guidelines recommend that sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2is) or glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP-1RAs) with proven cardiovascular benefits should be prioritized for combination therapy in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and established cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study was aimed at evaluating SGLT2i or GLP-1RA usage rates and various related factors in patients with T2DM and established CVD.

METHODS

We enrolled adults with T2DM aged ≥30 years who were hospitalized due to established CVD from January 2019 to May 2020 at 13 secondary and tertiary hospitals in Korea in this retrospective observational study.

RESULTS

Overall, 2,050 patients were eligible for analysis among 2,107 enrolled patients. The mean patient age, diabetes duration, and glycosylated hemoglobin level were 70.0 years, 12.0 years, and 7.5%, respectively. During the mean follow-up duration of 9.7 months, 25.7% of the patients were prescribed SGLT2is after CVD events. However, only 1.8% were prescribed GLP-1RAs. Compared with SGLT2i non-users, SGLT2i users were more frequently male and obese. Furthermore, they had a shorter diabetes duration but showed worse glycemic control and better renal function at the time of the event. GLP-1RA users had a longer duration of diabetes and worse glycemic control at the time of the event than GLP-1RA non-users.

CONCLUSION

The SGLT2i or GLP-1RA prescription rates were suboptimal in patients with T2DM and established CVD. Sex, body mass index, diabetes duration, glycemic control, and renal function were associated with the use of these agents.

Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease and the Risk of Thyroid Cancer Among Young Adults in South Korea

CONTEXT

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a hepatic manifestation of metabolic syndrome. Obesity and metabolic syndrome are known risk factors for thyroid cancer.

OBJECTIVE

We investigated the association between NAFLD and thyroid cancer risk in young adults.

METHODS

This nationwide cohort study included 1 135 967 participants aged 20 to 39 years who underwent 4 consecutive health screenings in South Korea. NAFLD was categorized using the fatty liver index (FLI), as follows: ≥60, 30 to 60, and <30. The cumulative FLI points were defined as the number of times participants had a FLI of ≥30 (0-4).

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 5.2 years, 4126 participants (0.36%) were newly diagnosed with thyroid cancer. Compared with the participants with an FLI of <30, those with an FLI of 30 to 60 (men: hazard ratio [HR] 1.36 [95% CI, 1.22-1.51] and women: HR 1.44 [1.21-1.70]) and those with an FLI of ≥60 (men: HR 1.71 [1.53-1.92] and women: HR 1.81 [1.46-2.25]) had a significantly higher risk of thyroid cancer. Participants with higher cumulative FLI points had a higher risk of thyroid cancer compared to those with a cumulative FLI point of 0 (P < .001). During the follow-up period, the participants with an increased FLI exhibited an increased risk of thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSION

NAFLD was associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer in young adults. Repeatedly elevated FLI and progression of NAFLD were associated with an increased risk of thyroid cancer in this study.

Inhibition of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter-2 during Serum Deprivation Increases Hepatic Gluconeogenesis via the AMPK/AKT/FOXO Signaling Pathway

BACKGRUOUND

Sodium-dependent glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) mediates glucose reabsorption in the renal proximal tubules, and SGLT2 inhibitors are used as therapeutic agents for treating type 2 diabetes mellitus. This study aimed to elucidate the effects and mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibition on hepatic glucose metabolism in both serum deprivation and serum supplementation states.

METHODS

Huh7 cells were treated with the SGLT2 inhibitors empagliflozin and dapagliflozin to examine the effect of SGLT2 on hepatic glucose uptake. To examine the modulation of glucose metabolism by SGLT2 inhibition under serum deprivation and serum supplementation conditions, HepG2 cells were transfected with SGLT2 small interfering RNA (siRNA), cultured in serum-free Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium for 16 hours, and then cultured in media supplemented with or without 10% fetal bovine serum for 8 hours.

RESULTS

SGLT2 inhibitors dose-dependently decreased hepatic glucose uptake. Serum deprivation increased the expression levels of the gluconeogenesis genes peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma co-activator 1 alpha (PGC-1α), glucose 6-phosphatase (G6pase), and phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), and their expression levels during serum deprivation were further increased in cells transfected with SGLT2 siRNA. SGLT2 inhibition by siRNA during serum deprivation induces nuclear localization of the transcription factor forkhead box class O 1 (FOXO1), decreases nuclear phosphorylated-AKT (p-AKT), and p-FOXO1 protein expression, and increases phosphorylated-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (p-AMPK) protein expression. However, treatment with the AMPK inhibitor, compound C, reversed the reduction in the protein expression levels of nuclear p- AKT and p-FOXO1 and decreased the protein expression levels of p-AMPK and PEPCK in cells transfected with SGLT2 siRNA during serum deprivation.

CONCLUSION

These data show that SGLT2 mediates glucose uptake in hepatocytes and that SGLT2 inhibition during serum deprivation increases gluconeogenesis via the AMPK/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Impact of Antidiabetic Drugs on Clinical Outcomes of COVID-19: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

Background

Inconsistent results have been reported regarding the association between the use of antidiabetic drugs and the clinical outcomes of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This study aimed to investigate the effect of antidiabetic drugs on COVID-19 outcomes in patients with diabetes using data from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) in South Korea.

Methods

We analyzed the NHIS data of patients aged ≥20 years who tested positive for COVID-19 and were taking antidiabetic drugs between December 2019 and June 2020. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to analyze the clinical outcomes of COVID-19 based on the use of antidiabetic drugs.

Results

A total of 556 patients taking antidiabetic drugs tested positive for COVID-19, including 271 male (48.7%), most of whom were in their sixties. Of all patients, 433 (77.9%) were hospitalized, 119 (21.4%) received oxygen treatment, 87 (15.6%) were admitted to the intensive care unit, 31 (5.6%) required mechanical ventilation, and 61 (11.0%) died. Metformin was significantly associated with the lower risks of mechanical ventilation (odds ratio [OR], 0.281; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.109 to 0.720; P=0.008), and death (OR, 0.395; 95% CI, 0.182 to 0.854; P=0.018). Dipeptidylpeptidase-4 inhibitor (DPP-4i) were significantly associated with the lower risks of oxygen treatment (OR, 0.565; 95% CI, 0.356 to 0.895; P=0.015) and death (OR, 0.454; 95% CI, 0.217 to 0.949; P=0.036). Sulfonylurea was significantly associated with the higher risk of mechanical ventilation (OR, 2.579; 95% CI, 1.004 to 6.626; P=0.049).

Conclusion

In patients with diabetes and COVID-19, metformin exhibited reduced risks of mechanical ventilation and death, DPP- 4i was linked with lower risks of oxygen treatment and death, while sulfonylurea was related to the increased risk of mechanical ventilation.

Docosahexanoic Acid Attenuates Palmitate-Induced Apoptosis by Autophagy Upregulation via GPR120/mTOR Axis in Insulin-Secreting Cells

Background

Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) reportedly have protective effects on pancreatic β-cells; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown.

Methods

To investigate the cellular mechanism of PUFA-induced cell protection, mouse insulinoma 6 (MIN6) cells were cultured with palmitic acid (PA) and/or docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), and alterations in cellular signaling and apoptosis were examined.

Results

DHA treatment remarkably repressed caspase-3 cleavage and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated UTP nick end labeling (TUNEL)-positive red dot signals in PA-treated MIN6 cells, with upregulation of autophagy, an increase in microtubule- associated protein 1-light chain 3 (LC3)-II, autophagy-related 5 (Atg5), and decreased p62. Upstream factors involved in autophagy regulation (Beclin-1, unc51 like autophagy activating kinase 1 [ULK1], phosphorylated mammalian target of rapamycin [mTOR], and protein kinase B) were also altered by DHA treatment. DHA specifically induced phosphorylation on S2448 in mTOR; however, phosphorylation on S2481 decreased. The role of G protein-coupled receptor 120 (GPR120) in the effect of DHA was demonstrated using a GPR120 agonist and antagonist. Additional treatment with AH7614, a GPR120 antagonist, significantly attenuated DHA-induced autophagy and protection. Taken together, DHA-induced autophagy activation with protection against PA-induced apoptosis mediated by the GPR120/mTOR axis.

Conclusion

These findings indicate that DHA has therapeutic effects on PA-induced pancreatic β-cells, and that the cellular mechanism of β-cell protection by DHA may be a new research target with potential pharmacotherapeutic implications in β-cell protection.

A Multicenter, Randomized, Open-Label Study to Compare the Effects of Gemigliptin Add-on or Escalation of Metformin Dose on Glycemic Control and Safety in Patients with Inadequately Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Treated with Metformin and SGLT-2 Inhibitors (SO GOOD Study)

Background

We aimed to compare efficacy and safety between gemigliptin add-on and escalation of the metformin dose in patients with inadequately controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) despite treatment with metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors.

Methods

This study was a multicenter, randomized, open-label, active-controlled, parallel-group comparative study. Patients with T2DM uncontrolled on metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors were randomized to receive gemigliptin 50 mg as an add-on (GEM group, n = 37) or escalation of the metformin dose (500 mg, MET group, n = 38) for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was the change in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) from baseline to week 24.

Results

At weeks 12 and 24, the reduction in HbA1c levels was significantly greater in the GEM group than in the MET group (GEM vs. MET = -0.64% ± 0.34% vs. -0.36% ± 0.50%, p = 0.009 at week 12; -0.61% ± 0.35% vs. -0.33% ± 0.70%, p = 0.045 at week 24). The proportions of patients who achieved target HbA1c levels of <7.0% at weeks 12 and 24 and <6.5% at week 12 were greater in the GEM group than in the MET group. An index of β-cell function was also significantly improved in the GEM group. The safety profiles were similar between the two groups.

Conclusions

Gemigliptin add-on therapy may be more effective than metformin dose escalation in patients with T2DM insufficiently controlled using metformin and SGLT2 inhibitors, without safety concerns. This trial is registered with CRIS_number: KCT0003520.

Glucagon-Like Peptide Receptor Agonist Inhibits Angiotensin II-Induced Proliferation and Migration in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells and Ameliorates Phosphate-Induced Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Calcification

BACKGRUOUND

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), which is a therapeutic agent for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus, has a beneficial effect on the cardiovascular system.

METHODS

To examine the protective effects of GLP-1RAs on proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), A-10 cells exposed to angiotensin II (Ang II) were treated with either exendin-4, liraglutide, or dulaglutide. To examine the effects of GLP-1RAs on vascular calcification, cells exposed to high concentration of inorganic phosphate (Pi) were treated with exendin-4, liraglutide, or dulaglutide.

RESULTS

Ang II increased proliferation and migration of VSMCs, gene expression levels of Ang II receptors AT1 and AT2, proliferation marker of proliferation Ki-67 (Mki-67), proliferating cell nuclear antigen (Pcna), and cyclin D1 (Ccnd1), and the protein expression levels of phospho-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (p-Erk), phospho-c-JUN N-terminal kinase (p-JNK), and phospho-phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (p-Pi3k). Exendin-4, liraglutide, and dulaglutide significantly decreased the proliferation and migration of VSMCs, the gene expression levels of Pcna, and the protein expression levels of p-Erk and p-JNK in the Ang II-treated VSMCs. Erk inhibitor PD98059 and JNK inhibitor SP600125 decreased the protein expression levels of Pcna and Ccnd1 and proliferation of VSMCs. Inhibition of GLP-1R by siRNA reversed the reduction of the protein expression levels of p-Erk and p-JNK by exendin-4, liraglutide, and dulaglutide in the Ang II-treated VSMCs. Moreover, GLP-1 (9-36) amide also decreased the proliferation and migration of the Ang II-treated VSMCs. In addition, these GLP-1RAs decreased calcium deposition by inhibiting activating transcription factor 4 (Atf4) in Pi-treated VSMCs.

CONCLUSION

These data show that GLP-1RAs ameliorate aberrant proliferation and migration in VSMCs through both GLP-1Rdependent and independent pathways and inhibit Pi-induced vascular calcification.

Differential Impact of Obesity on the Risk of Diabetes Development in Two Age Groups: Analysis from the National Health Screening Program

BACKGRUOUND

The effect of obesity on the development of type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) in different age groups remains unclear. We assessed the impact of obesity on the development of DM for two age groups (40-year-old, middle age; 66-year-old, older adults) in the Korean population.

METHODS

We analyzed Korean National Health Insurance Service data of 4,145,321 Korean adults with 40- and 66-year-old age without DM, between 2009 and 2014. Participants were followed up until 2017 or until the diagnosis of DM. We assessed the risk of DM based on the body mass index and waist circumference of the participants. Multiple confounding factors were adjusted.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 5.6 years. The association of general and abdominal obesity with the risk of DM development was stronger in the 40-year-old group (general obesity: hazard ratio [HR], 3.566, 95% confidence interval [CI], 3.512 to 3.622; abdominal obesity: HR, 3.231; 95% CI, 3.184 to 3.278) than in the 66-year-old group (general obesity: HR, 1.739; 95% CI, 1.719 to 1.759; abdominal obesity: HR, 1.799; 95% CI, 1.778 to 1.820). In the 66-year-old group, abdominal obesity had a stronger association with the development of DM as compared to general obesity. In the 40-year-old group, general obesity had a stronger association with the risk of DM development than abdominal obesity.

CONCLUSION

The influence of general and abdominal obesity on the development of DM differed according to age. In older adults, abdominal obesity had a stronger association with DM development than general obesity.

Coronary Artery Calcium Score as a Sensitive Indicator of Cardiovascular Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Long-Term Cohort Study

BACKGRUOUND

Coronary artery calcium score (CACS) has become an important tool for evaluating cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study evaluated the significance of CACS for future CVD through more than 10 years of follow-up in asymptomatic Korean populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) known to have a relatively low CACS burden.

METHODS

We enrolled 981 asymptomatic T2DM patients without CVD at baseline who underwent CACS evaluation using multidetector computed tomography between January 2008 and December 2014. They were grouped into five predefined CACS categories based on Agatston scores and followed up by August 2020. The primary endpoint was incident CVD events, including coronary, cerebrovascular, and peripheral arterial disease.

RESULTS

The relative risk of CVD was significantly higher in patients with CACS ≥10, and the significance persisted after adjustment for known confounders. A higher CACS category indicated a higher incidence of future CVD: hazard ratio (95% confidence interval) 4.09 (1.79 to 9.36), 12.00 (5.61 to 25.69), and 38.79 (16.43 to 91.59) for 10≤ CACS <100, 100≤ CACS <400, and CACS ≥400, respectively. During the 12-year follow-up period, the difference in event-free survival more than doubled as the category increased. Patients with CACS below 10 had very low CVD incidence throughout the follow-up. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed better area under curve when the CACS cutoff was 10 than 100.

CONCLUSION

CACS can be a sensitive marker of CVD risk. Specifically, CACS above 10 is an indicator of CVD high-risk requiring more intensive medical treatment in Koreans with T2DM.

Acromegaly and the long-term fracture risk of the vertebra and hip: a national cohort study

In this national cohort study, the patients with acromegaly had significantly higher risks of clinical vertebral (HR 2.09 [1.58-2.78]) and hip (HR 2.52 [1.61-3.95]) fractures than the controls. The increased fracture risk in patients with acromegaly was time-dependent and was observed even during the early period of follow-up.

PURPOSE

Acromegaly is characterized by the overproduction of growth hormone (GH) and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), both play important roles in regulating bone metabolism. We investigated the risk of vertebral and hip fractures in patients with acromegaly compared to age- and sex-matched controls.

METHODS

This nationwide population-based cohort study included 1,777 patients with acromegaly aged 40 years or older in 2006-2016 and 8,885 age- and sex-matched controls. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio (HR) [95% confidence interval].

RESULTS

The mean age was 54.3 years and 58.9% were female. For approximately 8.5 years of follow-up, the patients with acromegaly had significantly higher risks of clinical vertebral (HR 2.09 [1.58-2.78]) and hip (HR 2.52 [1.61-3.95]) fractures than the controls in the multivariate analyses. There were significant differences in the risks of clinical vertebral (P < 0.0001) and hip (P < 0.0001) fractures between the patients with acromegaly and the controls in the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis. The multivariable-adjusted HRs for clinical vertebral fractures comparing the patients with acromegaly with controls during and excluding the first 7 years of observation were 1.69 [1.15-2.49] and 2.70 [1.75-4.17], respectively. The HRs for hip fractures during and excluding the first 7 years of observation were 2.29 [1.25-4.18] and 3.36 [1.63-6.92], respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The patients with acromegaly had a higher risk of hip fractures as well as clinical vertebral fractures than the controls. The increased fracture risk in patients with acromegaly was time-dependent and was observed even during the early period of follow-up.

A Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) of Hypoglycemia and Hyperglycemia for Continuous Glucose Monitoring Validated by Clinician Ratings

BACKGROUND

A composite metric for the quality of glycemia from continuous glucose monitor (CGM) tracings could be useful for assisting with basic clinical interpretation of CGM data.

METHODS

We assembled a data set of 14-day CGM tracings from 225 insulin-treated adults with diabetes. Using a balanced incomplete block design, 330 clinicians who were highly experienced with CGM analysis and interpretation ranked the CGM tracings from best to worst quality of glycemia. We used principal component analysis and multiple regressions to develop a model to predict the clinician ranking based on seven standard metrics in an Ambulatory Glucose Profile: very low-glucose and low-glucose hypoglycemia; very high-glucose and high-glucose hyperglycemia; time in range; mean glucose; and coefficient of variation.

RESULTS

The analysis showed that clinician rankings depend on two components, one related to hypoglycemia that gives more weight to very low-glucose than to low-glucose and the other related to hyperglycemia that likewise gives greater weight to very high-glucose than to high-glucose. These two components should be calculated and displayed separately, but they can also be combined into a single Glycemia Risk Index (GRI) that corresponds closely to the clinician rankings of the overall quality of glycemia (r = 0.95). The GRI can be displayed graphically on a GRI Grid with the hypoglycemia component on the horizontal axis and the hyperglycemia component on the vertical axis. Diagonal lines divide the graph into five zones (quintiles) corresponding to the best (0th to 20th percentile) to worst (81st to 100th percentile) overall quality of glycemia. The GRI Grid enables users to track sequential changes within an individual over time and compare groups of individuals.

CONCLUSION

The GRI is a single-number summary of the quality of glycemia. Its hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia components provide actionable scores and a graphical display (the GRI Grid) that can be used by clinicians and researchers to determine the glycemic effects of prescribed and investigational treatments.

Association of Physical Activity with Total and Cause-specific Mortality in Patients with Diabetes: A Nationwide Population-based Cohort Study

AIMS

Physical inactivity is a modifiable risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM); however, little is known about its association with mortality due to other causes. Herein, we investigated the association between physical activity (PA) and cause-specific mortality in patients with T2DM.

METHODS

We analyzed data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service and claims database of adults with T2DM aged >20 years at baseline (n=2,651,214). Each participant's PA volume was measured as the metabolic equivalent of tasks (METs)-min per week, and hazard ratios of all-cause and cause-specific mortality relative to PA levels were estimated.

RESULTS

During the 7.8 years of follow-up, all-cause, CVD, respiratory, cancer, and other causes of mortality were lowest in patients engaged in vigorous PA. MET-min/week was inversely associated with mortality after adjusting for covariates. The reduction in total and cause-specific mortality was greater in patients aged ≥65 years than in those aged <65 years.

CONCLUSIONS

Increasing PA may facilitate a reduction in mortality from various causes, especially among older patients with T2DM. Clinicians should encourage such patients to increase their daily PA levels to reduce their risk of mortality.

Biomarkers for the Diagnosis of Heart Failure in People with Diabetes: A Consensus Report from Diabetes Technology Society

Diabetes Technology Society assembled a panel of clinician experts in diabetology, cardiology, clinical chemistry, nephrology, and primary care to review the current evidence on biomarker screening of people with diabetes (PWD) for heart failure (HF), who are, by definition, at risk for HF (Stage A HF). This consensus report reviews features of HF in PWD from the perspectives of 1) epidemiology, 2) classification of stages, 3) pathophysiology, 4) biomarkers for diagnosing, 5) biomarker assays, 6) diagnostic accuracy of biomarkers, 7) benefits of biomarker screening, 8) consensus recommendations for biomarker screening, 9) stratification of Stage B HF, 10) echocardiographic screening, 11) management of Stage A and Stage B HF, and 12) future directions. The Diabetes Technology Society panel recommends 1) biomarker screening with one of two circulating natriuretic peptides (B-type natriuretic peptide or N-terminal prohormone of B-type natriuretic peptide), 2) beginning screening five years following diagnosis of type 1 diabetes (T1D) and at the diagnosis of type 2 diabetes (T2D), 3) beginning routine screening no earlier than at age 30 years for T1D (irrespective of age of diagnosis) and at any age for T2D, 4) screening annually, and 5) testing any time of day. The panel also recommends that an abnormal biomarker test defines asymptomatic preclinical HF (Stage B HF). This diagnosis requires follow-up using transthoracic echocardiography for classification into one of four subcategories of Stage B HF, corresponding to risk of progression to symptomatic clinical HF (Stage C HF). These recommendations will allow identification and management of Stage A and Stage B HF in PWD to prevent progression to Stage C HF or advanced HF (Stage D HF).

Impact of mental disorders on the risk of heart failure among Korean patients with diabetes: a cohort study

BACKGROUND

Few studies have assessed the correlation between coexisting mental disorders in participants with diabetes mellitus (DM) and the risk of heart failure (HF). Herein, we conducted a cohort study to determine the association between the accumulation of mental disorders in participants with DM and the risk of HF.

METHODS

The Korean National Health Insurance Service records were assessed. 2,447,386 adults with DM who underwent health screening between 2009 and 2012 were analyzed. Participants with major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, insomnia, or anxiety disorders were included. In addition, participants were categorized based on the number of coexisting mental disorders. Each participant was followed until December 2018 or until the onset of HF. Cox proportional hazard modelling with confounding factors adjustment was conducted. In addition, a competing risk analysis was conducted. Subgroup analysis assessed the impact of clinical variables on the association between the accumulation of mental disorders and the risk of HF.

RESULTS

The median follow-up duration was 7.09 years. The accumulation of mental disorders was associated with a risk of HF (zero mental disorder (0), reference; 1 mental disorder, adjusted hazard ratio (aHR): 1.222, 95% confidence intervals (CI): 1.207-1.237; 2 mental disorders, aHR: 1.426, CI: 1.403-1.448; ≥3 mental disorders, aHR: 1.667, CI: 1.632-1.70. In the subgroup analysis, the strength of association was the strongest in the younger age group (< 40 years, 1 mental disorder, aHR 1.301, CI 1.143-1.481; ≥2 mental disorders, aHR 2.683, CI 2.257-3.190; 40-64 years, 1 mental disorder, aHR 1.289, CI 1.265-1.314; ≥2 mental disorders, aHR 1.762, CI 1.724-1.801; ≥65 years, 1 mental disorder, aHR 1.164, CI 1.145-1.183; ≥2 mental disorders, aHR 1.353, CI 1.330-1.377; P_inter<0.001). In addition, income, BMI, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, history of cardiovascular disease, insulin use, and duration of DM showed significant interactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Comorbid mental disorders in participants with DM are associated with an increased risk of HF. In addition, the association was stronger in a younger age group. Participants with DM and mental disorders should be monitored with increased frequency for signs of HF; for which they have a higher risk than the general population.

Association between antidiabetic drugs and the incidence of atrial fibrillation in patients with type 2 diabetes: A nationwide cohort study in South Korea

BACKGROUND

Although diabetes is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation (AF), studies on the AF risk according to the antidiabetic drugs are lacking. This study evaluated the effects of antidiabetic drugs on AF incidence in Korean patients with type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

We included 2,515,468 patients with type 2 diabetes from the Korean National Insurance Service database without a history of AF who underwent health check-ups between 2009 and 2012. Newly diagnosed AF incidence was recorded until December 2018 according to the main antidiabetic drug combinations used in the real world.

RESULTS

Of the patients included (mean age, 62 ± 11 years; 60 % men), 89,125 were newly diagnosed with AF. Metformin (MET) alone (hazard ratio [HR] 0.959, 95 % CI 0.935-0.985) and MET combination therapy (HR < 1) significantly decreased the risk of AF compared to the no-medication group. The antidiabetic drugs consistently showing a protective effect against AF incidence were MET (HR 0.977, 95 % CI 0.964-0.99) and thiazolidinedione (TZD; HR 0.926, 95 % CI 0.898-0.956), even after adjusting for various factors. Moreover, this protective effect was more remarkable with MET and TZD combination therapy (HR 0.802, 95 % CI 0.754-0.853) than with other drug combinations. In the subgroup analysis, the preventive effect of MET and TZD treatment against AF remained consistent, regardless of age, sex, duration, and diabetes severity.

CONCLUSION

The combination therapy of MET and TZD is the most effective antidiabetic drug for preventing AF in patients with type 2 diabetes.

Body mass index, waist circumference and cardiovascular diseases in transitional ages (40 and 66 years)

BACKGROUND

There is lack of data on effect modification by age on the association between body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC) and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). We aimed to investigate the impact of BMI and WC on incident CVDs in individuals aged 40 and 66 years.

METHODS

Overall, 2 430 510 participants who underwent a national health screening for transitional ages provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2009 and 2012 were included. The adjusted hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals for myocardial infarction (MI), ischaemic stroke and CVDs as a composite outcome of MI and ischaemic stroke were calculated using multivariable Cox proportional hazard regression analysis.

RESULTS

During a mean follow-up of 7.7 years, 24 884 MI and 29 415 ischaemic stroke events occurred. Among participants aged 40 years, there was a J-shaped association of BMI with incident CVDs, MI and ischaemic stroke with nadir at BMI 18.5-22.9 kg/m² (P for trend < 0.001 for all). Among those aged 66 years, there were significant U-shaped associations of BMI with CVDs and MI with nadir at a BMI of 23.0-24.9 kg/m² (P for trend 0.013 and 0.017, respectively). WC was linearly associated with all study outcomes in both age groups (P for trend <&nbsp;0.001). The impact of general and abdominal obesity on both study outcomes was more prominent in those aged 40 years than in those aged 66 years (P for interaction < 0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

To prevent cardiovascular risk, weight loss intervention should be cautiously implemented and individualized according to age. The maintenance of muscle mass may be essential in managing weight loss particularly in older population.

Cardiovascular Outcomes according to Comorbidities and Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Korean People with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

There are no clear data to support the cardiovascular (CV) risk categories and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) treatment goals in Korean people with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We evaluated the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) according to comorbidities and suggested LDL-C treatment goals in Korean people with T2DM in nationwide cohort data.

METHODS

Using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database, 248,002 people aged 30 to 90 years with T2DM who underwent routine health check-ups during 2009 were included. Subjects with previous CVD were excluded from the study. The primary outcome was incident CVD, defined as a composite of myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke during the follow-up period from 2009 to 2018.

RESULTS

The mean age of the study participants was 59.6±10.9 years, and median follow-up period was 9.3 years. CVD incidence increased in the order of DM duration of 5 years or more (12.04/1,000 person-years), hypertension (HT) (12.27/1,000 personyears), three or more CV risk factors (14.10/1,000 person-years), and chronic kidney disease (18.28/1,000 person-years). The risk of incident CVD increased linearly from an LDL-C level of ≥70 mg/dL in most patients with T2DM. In T2DM patients without HT or with a DM duration of less than 5 years, the CVD incidence increased from LDL-C level of ≥100 mg/dL.

CONCLUSION

For primary prevention of CVD in Korean adults with T2DM, it can be helpful to lower LDL-C targets when there are chronic kidney disease, HT, a long duration of diabetes mellitus, or three or more CV risk factors.

Association between Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Level and Cardiovascular Outcomes in Korean Adults: A Nationwide Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

To validate the treatment target of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level according to the cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk which was recommended by Korean dyslipidemia guideline.

METHODS

We used the Korean National Health Insurance Service database which included 3,958,048 people aged 20 to 89 years who underwent regular health screening. The primary outcome was incident CVD, defined as a composite of myocardial infarction and stroke during the follow-up period from 2009 to 2018.

RESULTS

The risk of CVD increased from LDL-C level of 70 mg/dL in very high-risk and high-risk groups and from 130 mg/dL in moderate-risk and low-risk groups. Adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) of LDL-C ranges 70-99, 100-129, 130-159, 160-189, and ≥190 mg/dL were 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.08-1.33), 1.27 (1.15-1.42), 1.39 (1.23-1.56), 1.69 (1.45-1.96), and 1.84 (1.49- 2.27) in very high-risk group, and 1.07 (1.02-1.13), 1.16 (1.10-1.21), 1.29 (1.22-1.36), 1.45 (1.36-1.55), and 1.73 (1.58-1.90) in high-risk group. Adjusted HRs (95% CI) of LDL-C ranges 130-159, 160-189, and ≥190 mg/dL were 1.15 (1.11-1.20), 1.28 (1.22- 1.34), and 1.45 (1.36-1.54) in moderate-risk group and 1.07 (1.02-1.13), 1.20 (1.13-1.26), and 1.47 (1.37-1.57) in low-risk group.

CONCLUSION

We confirmed the incidence of CVD was increased in higher LDL-C range. The risk of CVD increased from ≥70 mg/dL of LDL-C in very high-risk and high-risk groups, and from ≥130 mg/dL of LDL-C in moderate-risk and low-risk groups in Korean adults.

Effects of Patient-Driven Lifestyle Modification Using Intermittently Scanned Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: Results From the Randomized Open-label PDF Study

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the effects of patient-driven lifestyle modification using intermittently scanned continuous glucose monitoring (isCGM) in patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D).

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

We conducted a 12-week, open-label, randomized controlled trial. A total of 126 participants were 1:1 randomized to either the intervention group (structured education + isCGM) or the control group (standard care with blood glucose monitoring). The Self-Evaluation Of Unhealthy foods by Looking at postprandial glucose (SEOUL) algorithm was developed and applied to aid structured education in guiding patients to follow healthy eating behavior depending on the postprandial glycemic response. The primary end point was the change in HbA1c level from baseline.

RESULTS

Implementation of the SEOUL algorithm with isCGM was associated with greater improvement in HbA1c than with standard care (risk-adjusted difference -0.50%, 95% CI -0.74 to -0.26, P < 0.001). Participants in the intervention group had a greater reduction in fasting blood glucose and body weight (-16.5 mg/dL, 95% CI -30.0 to -3.0, P = 0.017; -1.5 kg, 95% CI -2.7 to -0.3, P = 0.013, respectively). The score sum for the Korean version of the revised Summary of Diabetes Self-Care Activities Questionnaire increased in both groups but to a greater extent in the intervention group (mean difference 4.8, 95% CI 1.7-8.0, P = 0.003). No severe hyperglycemia or hypoglycemia was reported in either group of patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Patient-driven lifestyle modification primarily focused on eating behavior using isCGM effectively lowered HbA1c levels in patients with T2D.

Comparison of Efficacy of Glimepiride, Alogliptin, and Alogliptin-Pioglitazone as the Initial Periods of Therapy in Patients with Poorly Controlled Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: An Open-Label, Multicenter, Randomized, Controlled Study

BACKGROUND

The choice of an optimal oral hypoglycemic agent in the initial treatment periods for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients remains difficult and deliberate. We compared the efficacy and safety of glimepiride (GLIM), alogliptin (ALO), and alogliptin-pioglitazone (ALO-PIO) in poorly controlled T2DM patients with drug-naïve or metformin failure.

METHODS

In this three-arm, multicenter, open-label, randomized, controlled trial, poorly controlled T2DM patients were randomized to receive GLIM (n=35), ALO (n=31), or ALO-PIO (n=33) therapy for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was change in the mean glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c) levels at week 24 from baseline. Secondary endpoints were changes in HbA1c level at week 12 from baseline, fasting plasma glucose (FPG) levels, lipid profiles at weeks 12 and 24, and parameters of glycemic variability, assessed by continuous glucose monitoring for 24 weeks.

RESULTS

At weeks 12 and 24, the ALO-PIO group showed significant reduction in HbA1c levels compared to the ALO group (-0.96%±0.17% vs. -0.37%±0.17% at week 12; -1.13%±0.19% vs. -0.18%±0.2% at week 24). The ALO-PIO therapy caused greater reduction in FPG levels and significant increase in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels at weeks 12 and 24 than the ALO therapy. Compared to low-dose GLIM therapy, ALO-PIO therapy showed greater improvement in glycemic variability. The adverse events were similar among the three arms.

CONCLUSION

ALO-PIO combination therapy during the early period exerts better glycemic control than ALO monotherapy and excellency in glycemic variability than low-dose sulfonylurea therapy in uncontrolled, drug-naïve or metformin failed T2DM patients.

Current status of obesity treatment in Korea: based on the 2020 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity guidelines for obesity management

Background: Obesity is a complex disease, and its prevalence is gradually increasing globally. The increasing prevalence of obesity is shown to significantly affect the development of obesity-related comorbidities. This paper describes the recent updates on obesity treatment in Korea based on the 2020 Korean Society for the Study of Obesity guidelines for obesity management.Current Concepts: Accurate evaluation of obesity is important before treatment initiation. Obesity in Korean adults is defined as body mass index ≥25 kg/m2, and abdominal obesity is defined as waist circumference ≥90 cm for men and ≥85 cm for women. It is recommended that energy intake be reduced and that the degree of energy restriction be individualized based on patient characteristics and medical conditions. Guidelines recommend assessment of the exercise participation and health status before prescribing exercise therapy; aerobic exercise for at least 150 min/week or 3–5 times/week is advised to facilitate weight loss. Although nutrition and behavior therapy and increased physical activity constitute the mainstay of obesity treatment, pharmacotherapy is recommended concomitant with comprehensive lifestyle modification. Bariatric surgery should be actively considered in patients with severe obesity and in those with obesity-related comorbidities.Discussion and Conclusion: Obesity and the associated comorbidities result in an increased socioeconomic and medical burden. Multifactorial intervention using a team approach is warranted for optimal management of obesity. This guideline will benefit primary care physicians for safe and effective decision-making regarding obesity management and treatment.

Extra-Glycemic Effects of Anti-Diabetic Medications: Two Birds with One Stone?

The world is suffering from a rapid increase in the number of people with diabetes due to the increased prevalence of obesity and lengthened life span. Since the development of insulin thanks to the efforts of Prof. Banting and Dr. Best in 1922, for which they won the Nobel Prize, remarkable developments in anti-diabetic medications have dramatically lengthened the lifespan of patients with diabetes. However, the control rate of hyperglycemia in patients with diabetes remains unsatisfactory, since glycemic control requires both medication and lifestyle modifications to slow the deterioration of pancreatic beta-cell function and prevent diabetic complications. From the initial "triumvirate" to the "ominous octet," and now the "egregious eleven," the number of organs recognized as being involved in hyperglycemia and diabetes has increased with the development of anti-diabetic medications. Recent unexpected results from outcome trials of anti-diabetic medications have enabled anti-diabetic medications to be indicated for the prevention of chronic kidney disease and heart failure, even in patients without diabetes. In this review, I would like to summarize the extra-glycemic effects of anti-diabetic medications.

A Report of Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome in the Last 3 Years of Upheaval

Journal of Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome (JOMES) is the official journal of the Korean Society for the Study of Obesity (KSSO) and is a peer-reviewed research journal that presents relevant academic research and the newest medical information in the field of obesity. JOMES was launched in 1992, with the foundation of the KSSO and diverse studies on obesity published under the title Journal of the KSSO until 2004. Since its publication in full English in 2017, JOMES was rapidly registered in numerous databases, that is, in PubMed Central in 2018, in Emerging Sources Citation Index (ESCI) and in Scopus in 2019. In addition, JOMES is indexed in KoreaMed, Science Central, EBSCO, DOAJ, and Google Scholar. The increase in the number of citations of JOMES within Web of Science is astonishing, and the world is reading and citing JOMES. In this review, I’d like to review the current status of JOMES and share the rapid development of JOMES with readers and potential authors of JOMES.

Changes in Patterns of Physical Activity and Risk of Heart Failure in Newly Diagnosed Diabetes Mellitus Patients

BACKGROUND

Exercise is recommended for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) patients to prevent cardiovascular disease. However, the effects of physical activity (PA) for reducing the risk of heart failure (HF) has yet to be elucidated. We aimed to assess the effect of changes in patterns of PA on incident HF, especially in newly diagnosed diabetic patients.

METHODS

We examined health examination data and claims records of 294,528 participants from the Korean National Health Insurance Service who underwent health examinations between 2009 and 2012 and were newly diagnosed with T2DM. Participants were classified into the four groups according to changes in PA between before and after the diagnosis of T2DM: continuously inactive, inactive to active, active to inactive, and continuously active. The development of HF was analyzed until 2017.

RESULTS

As compared with those who were continuously inactive, those who became physically active after diagnosis showed a reduced risk for HF (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.79; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.66 to 0.93). Those who were continuously active had the lowest risk for HF (aHR, 0.77; 95% CI, 0.62 to 0.96). As compared with those who were inactive, those who exercised regularly, either performing vigorous or moderate PA, had a lower HF risk (aHR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.69 to 0.91).

CONCLUSION

Among individuals with newly diagnosed T2DM, the risk of HF was reduced in those with higher levels of PA after diagnosis was made. Our results suggest either increasing or maintaining the frequency of PA after the diagnosis of T2DM may lower the risk of HF.

Dulaglutide Ameliorates Palmitic Acid-Induced Hepatic Steatosis by Activating FAM3A Signaling Pathway

BACKGROUND

Dulaglutide, a long-acting glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist (GLP-1RA), has been shown to reduce body weight and liver fat content in patients with type 2 diabetes. Family with sequence similarity 3 member A (FAM3A) plays a vital role in regulating glucose and lipid metabolism. The aim of this study was to determine the mechanisms by which dulaglutide protects against hepatic steatosis in HepG2 cells treated with palmitic acid (PA).

METHODS

HepG2 cells were pretreated with 400 μM PA for 24 hours, followed by treatment with or without 100 nM dulaglutide for 24 hours. Hepatic lipid accumulation was determined using Oil red O staining and triglyceride (TG) assay, and the expression of lipid metabolism-associated factor was analyzed using quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction and Western blotting.

RESULTS

Dulaglutide significantly decreased hepatic lipid accumulation and reduced the expression of genes associated with lipid droplet binding proteins, de novo lipogenesis, and TG synthesis in PA-treated HepG2 cells. Dulaglutide also increased the expression of proteins associated with lipolysis and fatty acid oxidation and FAM3A in PA-treated cells. However, exendin-(9-39), a GLP-1R antagonist, reversed the expression of FAM3A, and fatty acid oxidation-associated factors increased due to dulaglutide. In addition, inhibition of FAM3A by siRNA attenuated the reducing effect of dulaglutide on TG content and its increasing effect on regulation of fatty acid oxidation.

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that dulaglutide could be used therapeutically for improving nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, and its effect could be mediated in part via upregulation of FAM3A expression through a GLP-1R-dependent pathway.

The Influence of Obesity and Metabolic Health on Vascular Health

The prevalence of obesity is rapidly increasing worldwide. Obesity should not be understood only as the accumulation of fat in the body, but instead as a phenomenon that exerts different effects on our health according to the place of fat deposition and its stability. Obesity is the starting point of most metabolic diseases, such as diabetes, hypertension, metabolic syndrome, sleep apnea, and eventually cardiovascular disease. There are different kinds of obesity, ranging from simple obesity to sarcopenic obesity. The main purpose of intervening to address obesity is to decrease the ultimate consequence of obesity-namely, cardiovascular disease. The main mechanism through which obesity, especially abdominal obesity, increases cardiovascular risk is the obesity-induced derangement of metabolic health, leading to the development of metabolic diseases such as diabetes, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, and metabolic syndrome, which are the main initiators of vascular damage. In this review, I discuss the influence of various types of obesity on the risk of metabolic diseases, and how these diseases increase cardiovascular disease risk.

Changes in Insulin Resistance Index and the Risk of Liver Fibrosis in Patients with Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease without Diabetes: Kangbuk Samsung Health Study

BACKGROUND

Fibrosis is the most important prognostic factor for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Insulin resistance plays a key role of fibrosis progression. We evaluated the association between changes in homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) values and changes in fibrosis status in NAFLD.

METHODS

We analyzed the data of 15,728 participants with NAFLD (86% men, mean age 40.5 years) who had no diabetes at baseline and visited our centers for health check-ups both in 2012 and 2016. The participants were classified into four groups according to the degree of change in HOMA-IR values from baseline to the end of follow-up: G1 (<0), G2 (0-0.50), G3 (0.51-1.00), and G4 (>1.00). NAFLD was assessed by ultrasonography, and fibrosis status was evaluated by the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI).

RESULTS

After the 4-year follow-up, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for progression of fibrosis probability increased with increasing HOMA-IR values (OR, 2.25; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.87 to 2.71 for NFS; and OR, 2.55; 95% CI, 2.05 to 3.18 for APRI, G4). This tendency remained consistent throughout the subgroup analyses, except in those for female sex and a body mass index <25 kg/m2. The OR for regression of fibrosis probability decreased with increasing HOMA-IR values (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, 0.25 to 0.43 for NFS, G4).

CONCLUSION

Changes in HOMA-IR values were associated with changes in fibrosis status in patients with NAFLD without diabetes, which underscores the role of insulin resistance in liver fibrosis.

The Effects of Glucose Lowering Agents on the Secondary Prevention of Coronary Artery Disease in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes

BACKGROUND

Patients with diabetes have a higher risk of requiring repeated percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) than non-diabetic patients. We aimed to evaluate and compare the effects of anti-diabetic drugs on the secondary prevention of myocardial infarction among type 2 diabetes mellitus patients.

METHODS

We analyzed the general health check-up dataset and claims data of the Korean National Health Insurance Service of 199,714 participants (age ≥30 years) who underwent PCIs between 2010 and 2013. Those who underwent additional PCI within 1 year of their first PCI (n=3,325) and those who died within 1 year (n=1,312) were excluded. Patients were classified according to their prescription records for glucose-lowering agents. The primary endpoint was the incidence rate of coronary revascularization.

RESULTS

A total of 35,348 patients were included in the study. Metformin significantly decreased the risk of requiring repeat PCI in all patients (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR], 0.77). In obese patients with body mass index (BMI) ≥25 kg/m2, patients treated with thiazolidinedione (TZD) exhibited a decreased risk of requiring repeat revascularization than those who were not treated with TZD (aHR, 0.77; 95% confidence interval, 0.63 to 0.95). Patients treated with metformin showed a decreased risk of requiring revascularization regardless of their BMI. Insulin, meglitinide, and alpha-glucosidase inhibitor were associated with increased risk of repeated PCI.

CONCLUSION

The risk of requiring repeat revascularization was lower in diabetic patients treated with metformin and in obese patients treated with TZD. These results suggest that physicians should choose appropriate glucose-lowering agents for the secondary prevention of coronary artery disease.

Baseline homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance associated with fibrosis progression in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease without diabetes: A cohort study

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Fibrosis progression is the most important prognostic factor, and insulin resistance is one of the main mechanisms associated with fibrosis progression in patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We evaluate the association between baseline insulin resistance and future fibrosis progression in patients with NAFLD without diabetes.

APPROACH AND RESULTS

This retrospective longitudinal study with 8-year follow-up period included 32,606 (men, 83%) participants aged >20 years (average age, 38.0 years) without diabetes at baseline who completed at least two comprehensive health checkups from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2018. NAFLD was diagnosed based on ultrasonography. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to evaluate baseline insulin resistance. Fibrosis progression was assessed using the aspartate aminotransferase to platelet ratio index (APRI). The advanced liver fibrosis with an APRI value above the intermediate fibrosis probability (≥0.5) developed in a total of 2,897 participants during 136,108 person-years. 114 participants progressed to a high fibrosis probability stage (APRI >1.5) during 141,064 person-years. Using the lowest baseline HOMA-IR quartile group (Q1) as a reference, the multivariate-adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for development of advanced liver fibrosis (APRI ≥0.5) in the highest baseline HOMA-IR quartile group (Q4) was 1.95 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.74-2.19; Model 4). And the HR for development of advanced liver fibrosis with high fibrosis probability was 1.95 (95% CI 1.10-3.46; Model 4). The positive association was maintained throughout the entire follow-up period. The baseline HOMA-IR model was superior to the baseline body mass index (BMI) model in predicting the progression of fibrosis probability.

CONCLUSIONS

In this longitudinal study, we found that the degree of baseline insulin resistance, assessed by HOMA-IR values, was positively associated with future fibrosis progression in patients with NAFLD without diabetes.

Increased Risk of Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease in Individuals with High Weight Variability

BACKGROUND

Weight loss through lifestyle modification is recommended for patients with nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Recent studies have suggested that repeated loss and gain of weight is associated with worse health outcomes. This study aimed to examine the association between weight variability and the risk of NAFLD in patients without diabetes.

METHODS

We examined the health-checkup data of 30,708 participants who had undergone serial examinations between 2010 and 2014. Weight variability was assessed using coefficient of variation and the average successive variability of weight (ASVW), which was defined as the sum of absolute weight changes between successive years over the 5-year period divided by 4. The participants were classified according to the baseline body mass index and weight difference over 4 years.

RESULTS

On dividing the participants into four groups according to ASVW quartile groups, those in the highest quartile showed a significantly increased risk of NAFLD compared to those in the lowest quartile (odds ratio [OR], 1.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.63 to 2.19). Among participants without obesity at baseline, individuals with high ASVW showed increased risk of NAFLD (OR, 1.80; 95% CI, 1.61 to 2.01). Participants with increased weight over 4 years and high ASVW demonstrated higher risk of NAFLD compared to those with stable weight and low ASVW (OR, 4.87; 95% CI, 4.29 to 5.53).

CONCLUSION

Regardless of participant baseline obesity status, high weight variability was associated with an increased risk of developing NAFLD. Our results suggest that further effort is required to minimize weight fluctuations after achieving a desirable body weight.

Dose-Dependent Effect of Smoking on Risk of Diabetes Remains after Smoking Cessation: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study in Korea

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to evaluate the dose-dependent effects of smoking on risk of diabetes among those quitting smoking.

METHODS

We analyzed clinical data from a total of 5,198,792 individuals age 20 years or older who received health care check-up arranged by the national insurance program of Korea between 2009 and 2016 using the Korean National Health Insurance Service database. Cumulative smoking was estimated by pack-years. Smokers were classified into four categories according to the amount of smoking: light smokers (0.025 to 5 smoking pack-years), medium smokers (5 to 14 smoking pack-years), heavy smokers (14 to 26 smoking pack-years), and extreme smokers (more than 26 smoking pack-years).

RESULTS

During the study period, 164,335 individuals (3.2% of the total population) developed diabetes. Compared to sustained smokers, the risk of diabetes was significantly reduced in both quitters (hazard ratio [HR], 0.858; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.838 to 0.878) and nonsmokers (HR, 0.616; 95% CI, 0.606 to 0.625) after adjustment for multiple risk factors. The risk of diabetes gradually increased with amount of smoking in both quitters and current smokers. The risk of diabetes in heavy (HR, 1.119; 95% CI, 1.057 to 1.185) and extreme smokers (HR, 1.348; 95% CI, 1.275 to 1.425) among quitters was much higher compared to light smokers among current smokers.

CONCLUSION

Smoking cessation was effective in reducing the risk of diabetes regardless of weight change. However, there was a potential dose-dependent association between smoking amount and the development of diabetes. Diabetes risk still remained in heavy and extreme smokers even after smoking cessation.

2021 Clinical Practice Guidelines for Diabetes Mellitus of the Korean Diabetes Association

The Committee of Clinical Practice Guidelines of the Korean Diabetes Association (KDA) updated the previous clinical practice guidelines for Korean adults with diabetes and prediabetes and published the seventh edition in May 2021. We performed a comprehensive systematic review of recent clinical trials and evidence that could be applicable in real-world practice and suitable for the Korean population. The guideline is provided for all healthcare providers including physicians, diabetes experts, and certified diabetes educators across the country who manage patients with diabetes or the individuals at the risk of developing diabetes mellitus. The recommendations for screening diabetes and glucose-lowering agents have been revised and updated. New sections for continuous glucose monitoring, insulin pump use, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease in patients with diabetes mellitus have been added. The KDA recommends active vaccination for coronavirus disease 2019 in patients with diabetes during the pandemic. An abridgement that contains practical information for patient education and systematic management in the clinic was published separately.

Obesity Fact Sheet in Korea, 2020: Prevalence of Obesity by Obesity Class from 2009 to 2018

Background

We examined the prevalence of different obesity classes in South Korea based on the 2020 Obesity Fact Sheet.

Methods

Individuals ≥20 years who underwent a health examination provided by the Korean National Health Insurance System between 2009 and 2018 were included and the prevalence of class I, II, and III obesity was calculated for the total sample and age, sex, and region subgroups.

Results

From 2009 to 2018, the prevalence of all obesity classes increased across all sex and age groups and all regions. In the study population as a whole, the prevalence of class I, II, and III obesity was 29.1%, 3.2%, and 0.3% in 2009 and 32.5%, 5.2%, and 0.81% in 2018, respectively. Among young-aged individuals, the prevalence of each obesity class was 23.7%, 3.6%, and 0.44% in 2009 and 28.3%, 6.9%, and 1.61% in 2018, respectively. The prevalence among middle-aged individuals was 31.6%, 3.1%, and 0.24% in 2009 and 33.6%, 4.8%, and 0.59% in 2018; and among elderly individuals was 31.9%, 3.1%, and 0.21% in 2009 and 35.5%, 3.9%, and 0.32% in 2018. The increase in the prevalence of all obesity classes among young adults was dramatic. In particular, the class III obesity prevalence increased up to 3.8- and 3.5-fold between 2009 and 2018 in young men and women.

Conclusion

Based on the 2020 Obesity Fact Sheet, there was a dramatic increase in the prevalence of class II and III obesity from 2009 to 2018 among young adults, as well as the population as a whole. Optimal strategies for the prevention and treatment of obesity are needed considering the recent obesity epidemic in South Korea.

Vascular Calcification as a Novel Risk Factor for Kidney Function Deterioration in the Nonelderly

Background

The relationship between vascular calcification and chronic kidney disease is well known. However, whether vascular calcification affects renal function deterioration remains unclear. We investigated whether kidney function deteriorated more rapidly in individuals with higher vascular calcification indicated by the coronary artery calcium score (CACS).

Methods and Results

Individuals with a normal estimated glomerular filtration rate (>60 mL/min per 1.73 m²) who underwent cardiac computed tomography in our institution (a tertiary teaching hospital in Cheonan, Korea) from January 2010 to July 2012 were retrospectively reviewed. All participants were aged 20 to 65 years. Among 739 patients, 447, 175, and 117 had CACSs of 0, 1 to 99, and ≥100 units, respectively. The participants were followed for 7.8 (interquartile range, 5.5–8.8) years. The adjusted annual estimated glomerular filtration rates declined more rapidly in patients in the CACS ≥100 group compared with those in the CACS 0 group (adjusted‐β, −0.40; 95% CI, −0.80 to −0.03) when estimated using a linear mixed model. The adjusted hazard ratio in the CACS ≥100 group for Kidney Disease: Improving Global Outcomes criteria (a drop in estimated glomerular filtration rate category accompanied by a 25% or greater drop in estimated glomerular filtration rate) was 2.52 (1.13–5.61). After propensity score matching, more prevalent renal outcomes (13.2%) were observed in patients with a CACS of ≥100 compared with those with a CACS of 0 (1.9%), with statistical significance (P=0.004).

Conclusions

Our results showed that renal function declined more rapidly in patients with higher CACSs, suggesting that vascular calcification might be associated with chronic kidney disease progression.

Increased Risk of Cardiovascular Disease and Mortality in Patients with Diabetes and Coexisting Depression: A Nationwide Population-Based Cohort Study

BACKGROUND

Previous studies have suggested that depression in patients with diabetes is associated with worse health outcomes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) and mortality in patients with diabetes with comorbid depression.

METHODS

We examined the general health check-up data and claim database of the Korean National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) of 2,668,615 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus who had examinations between 2009 and 2012. As NHIS database has been established since 2002, those who had been diagnosed with depression or CVD since 2002 were excluded. The 2,228,443 participants were classified into three groups according to the claim history of depression; normal group (n=2,166,979), transient depression group (one episode of depression, n=42,124) and persistent depression group (at least two episodes of depression, n=19,340). The development of CVD and mortality were analyzed from 2009 to 2017.

RESULTS

Those with depression showed a significantly increased risk for stroke (transient depression group: hazard ratio [HR], 1.20; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.15 to 1.26) (persistent depression group: HR, 1.54; 95% CI, 1.46 to 1.63). Those with depression had an increased risk for myocardial infarction (transient depression group: HR, 1.25; 95% CI, 1.18 to 1.31) (persistent depression group: HR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.29 to 1.49). The persistent depression group had an increased risk for all-cause mortality (HR, 1.66; 95% CI, 1.60 to 1.72).

CONCLUSION

Coexisting depression in patients with diabetes has a deleterious effect on the development of CVD and mortality. We suggest that more attention should be given to patients with diabetes who present with depressive symptoms.

Best Achievements in Clinical Medicine in Diabetes and Dyslipidemia in 2020

Over the last two decades, our understanding of diabetes and treatment strategies have evolved tremendously, from scientific, mechanistic, and human perspectives. The categories of anti-diabetic medications expanded from a few to numerous, enabling clinicians to personalize diabetes care and treatment. Thanks to rapid growth in the field of science and medical engineering, newer treatment options are coming to the market with various advantages and disadvantages to be aware of. Therefore, clinicians should rapidly adopt new trends based on guidelines and data from many clinical trials in the field of diabetes. In the treatment of dyslipidemia, trends and guidelines are changing every year, and novel therapies are being developed. In this review, we would like to summarize the major achievements in clinical medicine in 2020 in the field of diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia.

New Model for Predicting the Presence of Coronary Artery Calcification

Coronary artery calcification (CAC) is a feature of coronary atherosclerosis and a well-known risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). As the absence of CAC is associated with a lower incidence rate of CVD, measurement of a CAC score is helpful for risk stratification when the risk decision is uncertain. This was a retrospective study with an aim to build a model to predict the presence of CAC (i.e., CAC score = 0 or not) and evaluate the discrimination and calibration power of the model. Our data set was divided into two set (80% for training set and 20% for test set). Ten-fold cross-validation was applied with ten times of interaction in each fold. We built prediction models using logistic regression (LRM), classification and regression tree (CART), conditional inference tree (CIT), and random forest (RF). A total of 3,302 patients from two cohorts (Soonchunhyang University Cheonan Hospital and Kangbuk Samsung Health Study) were enrolled. These patients' ages were between 40 and 75 years. All models showed acceptable accuracies (LRM, 70.71%; CART, 71.32%; CIT, 71.32%; and RF, 71.02%). The decision tree model using CART and CIT showed a reasonable accuracy without complexity. It could be implemented in real-world practice.

Autonomic Imbalance Increases the Risk for Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease

BACKGROUND

Although autonomic imbalance is associated with an increased risk for metabolic disease, its effects on nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) remains unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether autonomic dysfunction predicts the risk for nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

METHODS

A total of 33,899 participants without NAFLD who underwent health screening programs between 2011 and 2018 were enrolled. NAFLD was identified by ultrasonography. Autonomic activity was estimated using heart rate variability (HRV). Time domain [standard deviation of the normal-to-normal interval (SDNN) and root mean square difference (RMSSD)]; frequency domain [total power (TP), low frequency (LF), and high frequency (HF), and LF/HF ratio were analyzed.

FINDINGS

A total 6,466 participants developed NAFLD within a median of 5.7 years. Subjects with incident NAFLD showed decreased overall autonomic modulation and vagal activity with lowered SDNN, RMSSD, HF, normalized HF, compared to those without NAFLD. As the SDNN, RMSSD, TP, LF, and HF tertiles increased, the risk of NAFLD decreased with tertile 1 being the reference group [the hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of tertile 3 were 0.90 (0.85-0.96), 0.83 (0.78-0.88), 0.91 (0.86-0.97), 0.93 (0.87-0.99) and 0.89 (0.83-0.94), respectively] after adjusting for potential confounders. The risk for NAFLD was significantly higher in subjects in whom sustained elevated heart rate, normalized LF, and LF/HF ratio values than in those with sustained decrease in these parameters during follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Overall autonomic imbalance, decreased parasympathetic activity, and recently increased sympathetic activity might increase the risk of NAFLD.

Clusterin Protects Lipotoxicity-Induced Apoptosis via Upregulation of Autophagy in Insulin-Secreting Cells

BACKGROUND

There is a great need to discover factors that could protect pancreatic β-cells from apoptosis and thus prevent diabetes mellitus. Clusterin (CLU), a chaperone protein, plays an important role in cell protection in numerous cells and is involved in various cellular mechanisms, including autophagy. In the present study, we investigated the protective role of CLU through autophagy regulation in pancreatic β-cells.

METHODS

To identify the protective role of CLU, mouse insulinoma 6 (MIN6) cells were incubated with CLU and/or free fatty acid (FFA) palmitate, and cellular apoptosis and autophagy were examined.

RESULTS

Treatment with CLU remarkably upregulated microtubule-associated protein 1-light chain 3 (LC3)-II conversion in a doseand time-dependent manner with a significant increase in the autophagy-related 3 (Atg3) gene expression level, which is a mediator of LC3-II conversion. Moreover, co-immunoprecipitation and fluorescence microscopy experiments showed that the molecular interaction of LC3 with Atg3 and p62 was markedly increased by CLU. Stimulation of LC3-II conversion by CLU persisted in lipotoxic conditions, and FFA-induced apoptosis and dysfunction were simultaneously improved by CLU treatment. Finally, inhibition of LC3-II conversion by Atg3 gene knockdown markedly attenuated the cytoprotective effect of CLU.

CONCLUSION

Taken together, these findings suggest that CLU protects pancreatic β-cells against lipotoxicity-induced apoptosis via autophagy stimulation mediated by facilitating LC3-II conversion. Thus, CLU has therapeutic effects on FFA-induced pancreatic β-cell dysfunction.

Independent Impact of Diabetes on the Severity of Coronavirus Disease 2019 in 5,307 Patients in South Korea: A Nationwide Cohort Study

Background

Inconsistent results have been observed regarding the independent effect of diabetes on the severity of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). We conducted a nationwide population-based cohort study to evaluate the relationship between diabetes and COVID-19 severity in South Korea.

METHODS

Patients with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 aged ≥30 years were enrolled and medical claims data were obtained from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. Hospitalization, oxygen treatment, ventilator application, and mortality were assessed as severity outcomes. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed after adjusting for age, sex, and comorbidities.

RESULTS

Of 5,307 COVID-19 patients, the mean age was 56.0±14.4 years, 2,043 (38.5%) were male, and 770 (14.5%) had diabetes. The number of patients who were hospitalized, who received oxygen, who required ventilator support, and who died was 4,986 (94.0%), 884 (16.7%), 121 (2.3%), and 211 (4.0%), respectively. The proportion of patients with diabetes in the abovementioned outcome groups was 14.7%, 28.1%, 41.3%, 44.6%, showing an increasing trend according to outcome severity. In multivariate analyses, diabetes was associated with worse outcomes, with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.349 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.099 to 1.656; P=0.004) for oxygen treatment, an aOR of 1.930 (95% CI, 1.276 to 2.915; P<0.001) for ventilator use, and an aOR of 2.659 (95% CI, 1.896 to 3.729; P<0.001) for mortality.

CONCLUSION

Diabetes was associated with worse clinical outcomes in Korean patients with COVID-19, independent of other comorbidities. Therefore, patients with diabetes and COVID-19 should be treated with caution.

Current and emerging pharmacological options for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a highly prevalent disease and important unmet medical need. Current guidelines recommend, under specific restrictions, pioglitazone or vitamin E in patients with NASH and significant fibrosis, but the use of both remains off-label. We summarize evidence on medications for the treatment of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), since NASH has been mainly associated with higher morbidity and mortality. Some of these medications are currently in phase 3 clinical trials, including obeticholic acid (a farnesoid X receptor agonist), elafibranor (a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor [PPAR]-α/δ dual agonist), cenicriviroc (a CC chemokine receptor antagonist), MSDC-0602 K (a PPAR sparing modulator), selonsertib (an apoptosis signal-regulating kinase-1 inhibitor) and resmetirom (a thyroid hormone receptor agonist). A significant research effort is also targeting PPARs and selective PPAR modulators, including INT131 and pemafibrate, with the expectation that novel drugs may have beneficial effects similar to those of pioglitazone, but without the associated adverse effects. Whether these and other medications could offer tangible therapeutic benefits, alone or in combination, apparently on a background of lifestyle modification, i.e. exercise and a healthy dietary pattern (e.g. Mediterranean diet) remain to be proven. In conclusion, major advances are expected for the treatment of NASH.

The Prevalence and Risk of Type 2 Diabetes in Adults with Disabilities in Korea

BACKGROUND

People with disabilities are at risk of secondary conditions such as diabetes. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prevalence and risk of type 2 diabetes in South Korea, especially among people with all types of disabilities.

METHODS

We conducted a cross-sectional study using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, with two disabilityfree controls matched for each participant with disabilities by age and sex. Information regarding the type, severity and grade of disabilities was obtained based on the National Disability Registry. Diagnosis of type 2 diabetes was defined according to the following criteria: presence of International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision, Clinical Modification codes E11, E12, E13, or E14 and claims for at least one oral anti-diabetic agent or insulin at baseline, or fasting glucose level ≥126 mg/dL.

RESULTS

We included 1,297,806 participants with disabilities and 2,943,719 control. Out of 4,241,525 participants, 841,990 (19.9%) were diagnosed with diabetes. The prevalence of diabetes was higher in the disability group compared with individuals without disabilities (23.1% vs. 18.4%). The odds of having diabetes was higher in the disability group compared with the control group (adjusted odds ratio, 1.34; 95% confidence interval, 1.33 to 1.34). The results showed higher prevalence of diabetes in the mildly disabled group (23.2%) than in the severely disabled group (22.7%).

CONCLUSION

The prevalence and risk of diabetes were higher in people with disabilities compared with the general population. Physicians and public health authorities should focus on people with disabilities for proper diabetes management.

Association Between Glycemic Status and the Risk of Parkinson Disease: A Nationwide Population-Based Study

OBJECTIVE

Previous studies have suggested that diabetes increases the risk of Parkinson disease (PD); however, this has not been conclusively established. We analyzed the risk of PD based on baseline glucose tolerance status in a large-scale cohort representative of the general Korean population.

RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS

This analysis was performed in a cohort of 15,168,021 adults aged ≥40 years who underwent health checkups under the National Health Insurance Service between January 2009 and December 2010. The clinical course of subjects was monitored until December 2016. Subjects were classified into the following groups: no diabetes, impaired fasting glucose (IFG), diabetes duration <5 years, and diabetes duration ≥5 years. We analyzed the adjusted hazard ratio of PD for each group.

RESULTS

During the observation period of 49,076,148.74 person-years, PD occurred in 31,577 patients. Compared with the nondiabetes group, the adjusted hazard ratio was 1.038 (95% CI, 1.009-1.067) in the IFG group, 1.185 (95% CI, 1.143-1.229) in the diabetes duration <5 years group, and 1.618 (95% CI, 1.566-1.672) in the diabetes duration ≥5 years group. These results were consistent with those of the subgroup analysis, and the presence of diabetes further increased the risk of PD regardless of comorbidities such as cardiovascular, cerebrovascular, and chronic kidney diseases.

CONCLUSIONS

This population-based cohort study suggests that diabetes is an independent risk factor for PD.