The relationship between employment status and insulin resistance in the Korean elderly population.

Abstract

BACKGROUND/AIMS:

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between employment status and insulin resistance in the Korean elderly population.

METHODS:

The study included 2325 healthy participants (862 men and 1463 women) who did not have diabetes, were 60-74 years old, and participated in the 2007-2010 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Their employment status was categorized as employed or unemployed. The homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR) was used to assess insulin sensitivity. Insulin resistance was defined as values greater than the 75th percentile of the HOMA-IR (> 2.67 in men and > 2.87 in women).

RESULTS:

Mean HOMA-IR values were significantly higher for both sexes in the unemployed group than in the employed group. Compared with the unemployed group, the odds ratios (95% confidence intervals) for insulin resistance in the employed group were 0.55 (0.34-0.87) in men and 0.68 (0.47-0.98) in women after adjusting for confounders.

CONCLUSIONS:

Being employed was significantly associated with a lower risk of insulin resistance in the Korean elderly population. These findings suggest that insulin sensitivity could be increased by increasing physical activity through occupational activities in the elderly population.