INTRODUCTION: The aetiology of dural arteriovenous fistula (DAVF) is not well 
known, but it has been suggested that abnormality in angiogenesis plays a 
pathological role. Abnormality in angiogenesis is also involved in diabetes 
mellitus (DM). The purpose of this study was to quantify the relation between 
DAVF and DM in a Korean population.
METHODS: Medical records of 192 patients with DAVF between 2002 and 2011 were 
reviewed. Age, sex and the presence of DM, hypertension, hyperlipidaemia, 
stroke, coronary artery disease and cancers were compared between DAVF and 
control subjects. Data for control were obtained from the Korean National Health 
and Nutrition Examination Survey. The relationship of DM and DAVF location, 
presenting symptoms (benign vs. aggressive) and classification (Borden and 
Geibprasert) were assessed using the Pearson's chi-square test.
RESULTS: Prevalence of DM was higher in DAVF patients (19.8 %) than in controls 
(9.5 %; p = 0.004). Univariate analysis showed that DM (odds ratio (OR), 2.356; 
95 % confidence interval (CI), 1.634-3.399; p < 0.001) and age (OR, 1.022; 95 % 
CI, 1.012-1.032; p < 0.001) increased the odds of DAVF. This was supported by 
multivariate analysis (DM: OR, 2.092; 95 % CI, 1.391-3.145; p = 0.0004 and Age: 
OR, 1.021; 95 % CI, 1.009-1.033; p = 0.001). When these analyses were repeated 
after stratification by sex, there was no relation between age and DAVF in men. 
Borden II and III (p = 0.038) and aggressive symptoms (p = 0.023) were related 
to DM.
CONCLUSION: There was a positive relation between DM and DAVF in a Korean 
population. DAVFs with aggressive symptoms and behaviour were more commonly 
related to DM.