Burdens of Cardiometabolic Diseases Attributable to Dietary and Metabolic Risks in Korean Adults 2012–2013

PURPOSE: In line with epidemiological and sociocultural changes in Korea over the past decades, reliable estimation of diseases as a result of dietary and metabolic risks is required. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the contributions of dietary and metabolic factors to cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs) in Korean adults (25–64 years old) during 2012–2013. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Distribution of risk factors and cause-specific mortality by gender and age per year was obtained from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey and Statistics Korea, respectively. The association between the two was obtained from published meta-analyses. The population-attributable fraction attributable to the risk factors was calculated across gender and age strata (male and female, age groups 25–34, 35–44, 45–54, and 55–64) in 2012 and 2013. RESULTS: The results showed that during the period studied, high body mass index [5628 deaths; uncertainty intervals (UIs): 5473–5781] and blood pressure (4202 deaths; UIs: 3992–4410) were major metabolic risks for CMD deaths, followed by dietary risks such as low intake of whole grain (4107 deaths; UIs: 3275–4870) and fruits (3886 deaths; UIs: 3227–4508), as well as high intake of sodium (2911 deaths, UIs: 2406–3425). Also, males and the younger population were seen more prone to be exposed to harmful dietary risk than their female and older counterparts. CONCLUSION: The findings provide the necessary information to develop targeted government interventions to improve cardiometabolic health at the population level.