Sungjin Park1, Sung-Kyung Kim2, Jae-Yeop Kim3, Kyungsuk Lee4, Jung Ran Choi5, Sei-Jin Chang6, Choon Hee Chung7, Kyu-Sang Park8, Sung-Soo Oh9, Sang-Baek Koh10. 1. Department of Medicine, Yonsei University Graduate School, Seoul, Republic of Korea; Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Hongseong Medical Center, Hongseong, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: psjin9318@gmail.com. 2. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: stacte@yonsei.ac.kr. 3. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kimjy87330@gmail.com. 4. National Academy of Agricultural Science, Rural Development Administration, Jeonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: leeks81@korea.kr. 5. Institute of Genomic Cohort, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: christinae@yonsei.ac.kr. 6. Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: chang0343@yonsei.ac.kr. 7. Department of Internal Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: cchung@yonsei.ac.kr. 8. Mitohormesis Research Center, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Physiology, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: qsang@yonsei.ac.kr. 9. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: oss0609@yonsei.ac.kr. 10. Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju Severance Christian Hospital, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Department of Preventive Medicine and Institute of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Institute of Genomic Cohort, Wonju College of Medicine, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea; Center for Global Health and Social Medicine, Institute of Poverty Alleviation and International Development, Yonsei University, Wonju, Republic of Korea. Electronic address: kohhj@yonsei.ac.kr.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Among the adverse health effects of exposure to pesticides, an association with diabetes has been reported. However, there is a lack of epidemiologic studies on the health effects of exposure to pesticides, particularly investigating the association between occupational pesticide exposure and diabetes prevalence. PURPOSE: The present study examined the association between pesticide exposure and prevalence of diabetes in a rural population in Korea. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea Farmers Cohort study, and included 2559 participants in the baseline survey between November 2005 and January 2008. We performed a clinical examination including blood sampling and assessed data on diabetes diagnosis, demographics, and pesticide exposure. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between pesticide exposure and diabetes prevalence, adjusting for age, sex, monthly income, and marital status. In addition, a stratified analysis by body mass index (BMI) was conducted, with two categories: normal weight (<25 kg/m2) and overweight or obese (≥25 kg/m2). RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of diabetes was 9.30%. Pesticide exposure was associated with the risk of diabetes after adjustment for covariates. In the analysis stratified by BMI, all the variables related to pesticide exposure were associated with prevalence of diabetes in the overweight or obese group, whereas no significant association was found in the normal weight group. CONCLUSION: Exposure to pesticides was associated with diabetes, and this association was stronger in overweight or obese individuals than in normal weight individuals. Further longitudinal studies that consider information on BMI are necessary.
BACKGROUND: Among the adverse health effects of exposure to pesticides, an association with diabetes has been reported. However, there is a lack of epidemiologic studies on the health effects of exposure to pesticides, particularly investigating the association between occupational pesticide exposure and diabetes prevalence. PURPOSE: The present study examined the association between pesticide exposure and prevalence of diabetes in a rural population in Korea. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from the Korea Farmers Cohort study, and included 2559 participants in the baseline survey between November 2005 and January 2008. We performed a clinical examination including blood sampling and assessed data on diabetes diagnosis, demographics, and pesticide exposure. Logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between pesticide exposure and diabetes prevalence, adjusting for age, sex, monthly income, and marital status. In addition, a stratified analysis by body mass index (BMI) was conducted, with two categories: normal weight (<25 kg/m2) and overweight or obese (≥25 kg/m2). RESULTS: At baseline, the prevalence of diabetes was 9.30%. Pesticide exposure was associated with the risk of diabetes after adjustment for covariates. In the analysis stratified by BMI, all the variables related to pesticide exposure were associated with prevalence of diabetes in the overweight or obese group, whereas no significant association was found in the normal weight group. CONCLUSION: Exposure to pesticides was associated with diabetes, and this association was stronger in overweight or obese individuals than in normal weight individuals. Further longitudinal studies that consider information on BMI are necessary.