# Association Between Neck Circumference and Uncontrolled Hyperglycemia Diabetes in Korean Adults: From the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2019 to 2021

## TL;DR

This study shows that neck circumference is linked to uncontrolled diabetes and high blood sugar in Korean adults, suggesting it could be a simple way to identify at-risk individuals.

## Contribution

The study identifies neck circumference as a novel, non-invasive marker for hyperglycemia and uncontrolled diabetes in Korean adults.

## Key findings

- Neck circumference was independently associated with hyperglycemia in non-diabetic individuals.
- Neck circumference was also linked to uncontrolled diabetes after adjusting for confounders.
- NC could serve as a simple anthropometric marker for identifying individuals with poor glycemic control.

## Abstract

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a major global health concern, associated with both microvascular and macrovascular complications. Early identification of individuals at risk of hyperglycemia and diabetes progression is crucial for preventing long-term complications and improving patient outcomes. We investigated the association between neck circumference (NC) and hyperglycemia in non-diabetic individuals and in patients with uncontrolled DM, using data from the nationally representative Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2019–2021. Uncontrolled DM was defined as hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) ≥ 7.0%, while hyperglycemia in non-diabetic individuals was defined as fasting blood glucose ≥ 126 mg/dL or HbA1c ≥ 6.5%. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to evaluate the association between NC and glycemic outcomes. NC was independently associated with hyperglycemia in non-diabetic individuals (Model 1: odds ratio (OR): 1.09; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.05–1.13; Model 2: OR: 1.09; 95% CI: 1.05–1.13) and patients with uncontrolled DM (Model 1: OR: 1.10; 95% CI: 1.03–1.17; Model 2: OR: 1.11; 95% CI: 1.04–1.18) after adjusting for potential confounders. This study demonstrates that NC is a significant risk factor for hyperglycemia in the general population and for individuals with uncontrolled DM. NC may serve as a simple, non-invasive anthropometric marker to help identify individuals at elevated risk for poor glycemic control.