• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.6
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• pp.496-504
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• 2010

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effect of outpatient cost-sharing on health care utilization by the elderly. Methods: The data in this analysis was the health insurance claims data between July 1999 and December 2008 (114 months). The study group was divided into two age groups, namely 60-64 years old and 65-69 years old. This study evaluated the impact of policy change on office visits, the office visits per person, and the percentage of the copayment-paid visits in total visits. Interrupted time series and segmented regression model were used for statistical analysis. Results: The results showed that outpatient cost-sharing decreased office visits, but it also decreased the percentage of copayment-paid visits, implying that the intensity of care increased. There was little difference in the results between the two age groups. But after the introduction of the coinsurance system for those patients under age 65, office visits and the percentage of copayment-paid visits decreased, and the 60-64 years old group had a larger decrease than the 65-69 years old group. Conclusions: This study evaluated the effects of outpatient cost-sharing on health care utilization by the aged. Cost sharing of the elderly had little effect on controlling health care utilization.

• The Journal of Korean Physical Therapy
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.19-24
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• 2008

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine how norepinephrine affects immunity in patients over age 65. Methods: We enrolled 25 male and female subjects age 65 or older. A low frequency electroacupuncture (EA) device was used to stimulate acupoint Hogu (L14). The 2 Hz frequency EA was applied to the acupoint for 20 minutes. Leukocyte subtypes-including neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, eosinophils, and basophil-were then measured. The immunoglobulins IgG and IgM were also quantified. The data were finally analyzed using Wilcoxon singed-rank test and regression test as part of the SPSS WIN v. 10.1 program. Results: As norepinephrine levels decreased after EA stimulation, neutrophil, lymphocyte, and monocyte levels increased, and eosinophil and neutrophils levels decreased. Neutrophil and monocyte levels did not change to a statistically significant degree, but eosinophil levels showed a statistically significant decrease (p<0.05). Immunoglobulin IgG showed a statistically significant increase (p<0.05). Conclusion: This study showed that norepinephrine does affect immunity in persons over the age of 65. This indicates that there is an interaction between the nervous system and the immune system, and interaction that plays a crucial roles in the body's immune resistance and homeostasis.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.21 no.1
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• pp.51-56
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• 2008

Background: Preoperative dexamethasone improves the surgical outcome after laparoscopic cholecystectomy(LC). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of preoperative dexamethasone on the postoperativepain according to age and gender in patients who undergo LC.Methods: In this double blind prospective study, 400 patients, males or females :< 45 yr and males or femaless 65 yr (n = 50 in each of eight groups) who undergoing LC were randomized to receive dexamethasone 8mg (5 ml) or saline 5 ml intravenously 100 minutes before their operation, Postoperative pain was assessedon a visual analog scale (VAS) at 1, 6, 12, and 24 hour, and the time to administering the first postoperativeanalgesics was recorded.Results: Dexamethasone was administered without consideration for age and gender, and it reduced thepostoperative pain VAS score at 1, 6, and 12 hours, and the opioid analgesic requirement, but there was nosignificant difference between administering saline or dexamethasone in the same gender and age groups.Females U 45 yr who were administered saline had the most pain sensitivity and males S 65 yr who wereadministered dexamethasone had the least pain sensitivity.Conclusions: Preoperative dexamethasone reduces the pain intensity and opioid consumption, but does notreduce the pain intensity, according to age and gender in the patients undergoing LC. As a result, Preoperativedexamethasone should be considered for routine use for patients who are undergoing laparoscopic cho-lecystectomy. (Korean J Pain 2008; 21: 51 56)

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.23-45
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• 1994

It has been recently reported that degenerative diseases are increasing rapidly in many other countries as well as in Korea according to expansion of life expectancy, economic development and dietary patterns. The aim of this study was to investigate changes in lipid metabolism with age, to determine which dietary factors affect the serum lipid profiles, and to compare Korean and western diets. With clinically normal participants(made 60, female 63), this study was carried out in three phases : 1) to analyze blood lipid levels with age, 2) to analyze the effects of different dietary intakes on blood lipid levels according to age, and 3) to compare the effects of different food intakes on blood lipids between eastern and western coutries. The results are follows : 1) Mean serum values of triglyceride and cholesterol reached a peak level at the age of 50-60 years, although men has higher levels than women at earlier ages. LDL cholesterol percentage increased sharply after 50 years and continued to 70 years. 2) Differences of dietary calorie intake including carbohydrate, total fat and animal fat affected serum lipid profiles, such that high intake groups generally showed higher triglyceride and cholesterol values than the lower intake groups. 3) Compared with Americans(45%), Koreans consumed carbodydrates at 65% of their calorie intake. At this carbohydrate level dietary fatty acid P/S and W-6/W-3 ratio were 1.1 and 6, this could make Koreans continue this dietary pattern composed of carbohydrate at 65% of total calorie intake, and P/S ratio of fatty acid at 1 to 2.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.969-975
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• 2013

Aim: The aim of this study was to determine the impact of age on the occurrence, severity, and timing of acute side effects related to radiotherapy. Materials and Methods: We analysed the data of 423 patients. Results: Of the patients, 295 (70%) were under the age of 65 (group 1) and 128 (30%) were over the age of 65 (group 2). The frequencies of radiotherapy-induced side effects were 89% in group 1 and 87% in group 2 (p=0.286). The mean times to occurrence were $2.5{\pm}0.1$ weeks in group 1 and $2.2{\pm}0.1$ weeks in group 2 (p=0.013). Treatment was ended in 2% of patients in group 1 and 6% of those in group 2 (p=0.062). Treatment interruption was identified in 18% of patients in group 1 and 23% in group 2 (p=0.142). Changes in performance status were greater in older patients (p=0.013). There were no significant differences according to the frequency or severity of side effects, except skin and genitourinary complications, between the groups. Conclusions: Early normal tissue reactions were not higher in older versus younger patients, though there was a tendency towards an earlier appearance.

• Journal of the Ergonomics Society of Korea
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.297-310
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• 2010

The purpose of this study is to investigate the user characteristics in different age groups by investigating the level of satisfaction and preference of design and function of mobile phone. 160 subjects participated in the experiment. Subjects with different ages were selected and divided into four groups: young age group (20 to less than 45), $1^{st}$ middle age group (45 to less than 55), $2^{nd}$ middle age group(55 to less than 65), and elderly group(over 65). A questionnaire was developed based on the previous design guideline, and additional questions were made to test newly developed function and design of the mobile phone. In particular, depth interviews were conducted in order to have a proper response from old subjects who have difficulties in completing written questionnaire. In result, it was found that except for price the major criterion to purchase mobile phone was the design, and the function of phone was the next except for elderly group. In the case of elderly group, the screen size is the first. Statistical results indicated that 37.5% of the young age group, 22.5% of $1^{st}$ middle age group, 22.5% of $2^{nd}$ middle age group and 10.0% of the elderly group preferred the design to function when they purchase mobile phones. Most elderly people were not satisfied with the supplementary function of the mobile phone. The $1^{st}$ middle age group did not know exactly how to use the supplementary service although they were willing to use it. Regarding the emotional preference on the type of phone, the sliding type was preferred most. Current results can be used to anticipate the future trend of mobile phone and design a user-friendly product for the aged population.

• Neonatal Medicine
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• v.28 no.2
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• pp.65-71
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• 2021

Purpose: We investigated whether consecutive levels of new emerging renal biomarkers, including serum cystatin C (CysC) and urinary neutrophil gelatinase-associated lipocalin (NGAL)/creatinine (Cr) ratio, were affected by postconceptional age in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants. Methods: Repeatedly measured samples for each infant were divided into four groups according to postnatal age: at birth (stage I), 3 to 7 days postnatally (stage II), 8 to 28 days postnatally (stage III), and >28 days postnatally (stage IV). The association between renal biomarkers and postconceptional age was assessed using Pearson's correlation coefficient, and the mean values of renal biomarkers in the four stages were compared using repeated-measures analysis of variance. Results: For samples measured at birth, serum CysC (r=-0.358, P=0.032) and urinary NGAL/Cr ratio (r=-0.522, P=0.001) were negatively correlated with gestational age, whereas serum Cr (r=0.148, P=0.390) was not. In addition, for all samples measured, serum CysC (r=-0.209, P=0.012), urinary NGAL/Cr ratio (r=-0.536, P<0.001), and serum Cr (r=-0.311, P<0.001) were negatively correlated with postconceptional age. Compared with the mean values of the postnatal age-specific stages, serum CysC showed no significant differences in any of the four stages. However, the urinary NGAL/Cr ratio in stage IV was significantly different from those in stages I to III. Conclusion: Although urinary NGAL/Cr ratio and serum CysC were negatively correlated with postconceptional age considering renal development, serum CysC showed no significant differences in any of the four postnatal age-specific stages. Urinary NGAL/Cr ratio at >28 days postnatally seems to be more affected by postconceptional age than serum CysC in VLBW infants.

• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.363-381
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined the Korean elderly's dietary intake status, subjective health-related perception and chronic disease prevalence among age groups. Associations of dietary quality with subjective health-related perception and chronic diseases were also examined. Methods: Based on data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,231 elderly were selected and categorized into 4 age groups of '65 ~ 69', '70 ~ 74', '75 ~ 79' and 'over 80'. Nutrient intakes, proportions of those with insufficient nutrient intakes, Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), some subjective health-related perceptions and prevalence of major chronic diseases were compared according to the age groups. Differences in the subjective health-related perceptions and odds ratios of the chronic diseases according to the quartile levels of KHEI within the same age group were analyzed. Results: With the increase of age, several nutrient intakes (P < 0.001) and KHEI scores significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In women, activity restriction increased (P < 0.05), and EQ-5D score decreased with age (P < 0.001). Prevalence of hypertension (P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (P < 0.05) and anemia (P < 0.01) significantly increased, while hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.01) significantly decreased only in men. Obesity prevalence decreased, while underweight prevalence increased (P < 0.05). Subjective health status, EQ-5D score and PHQ-9 score significantly improved as KHEI score increased in certain age groups of women (P < 0.05). Odds ratio of hypercholesterolemia significantly increased with the increase of KHEI score in 65 ~ 69-year-old women. However, hypertension and anemia significantly decreased with the increase of KHEI score in 75 ~ 79-year-old women (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The study findings suggest that nutrition management and policy for the Korean elderly need to apply a segmented age standard that can better reflect their dynamic characteristics.

• Journal of Korean Society of Transportation
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.100-111
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• 2015

After empirically investigating the vehicle accident risks by age groups, various programs and policies have been imposed to reduce the old's risks in other countries. In Korea, it is little known the risk level by age groups and no policy changes has been implemented even if the number of vehicle accidents occurred by the old has been rapidly rising while the total number of vehicle accidents has been decreasing. This study empirically investigates the vehicle accident risks by age groups and the results show that the old drivers over age 65 has the highest accident risk except for the young drivers below age 25. Thus, we emphasize the necessity of reinforcing the qualifications for reissuing the drive licence and programs for educating the old drivers in Korea which is facing the most rapid population aging in the world. On the other hand, various changes are needed reflecting the old drivers such as reforming the road signs, issuing a sticker and providing them incentives such that the old drivers use the public transportation instead of self-driving.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.52 no.5
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• pp.308-315
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• 2019

Objectives: Estimating influenza-associated mortality is important since seasonal influenza affects persons of all ages, causing severe illness or death. This study aimed to estimate influenza-associated mortality, considering both periodic changes and age-specific mortality by influenza subtypes. Methods: Using the Microdata Integrated Service from Statistics Korea, we collected weekly mortality data including cause of death. Laboratory surveillance data of respiratory viruses from 2009 to 2016 were obtained from the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. After adjusting for the annual age-specific population size, we used a negative binomial regression model by age group and influenza subtype. Results: Overall, 1 859 890 deaths were observed and the average rate of influenza virus positivity was 14.7% (standard deviation [SD], 5.8), with the following subtype distribution: A(H1N1), 5.0% (SD, 5.8); A(H3N2), 4.4% (SD, 3.4); and B, 5.3% (SD, 3.7). As a result, among individuals under 65 years old, 6774 (0.51%) all-cause deaths, 2521 (3.05%) respiratory or circulatory deaths, and 1048 (18.23%) influenza or pneumonia deaths were estimated. Among those 65 years of age or older, 30 414 (2.27%) all-cause deaths, 16 411 (3.42%) respiratory or circulatory deaths, and 4906 (6.87%) influenza or pneumonia deaths were estimated. Influenza A(H3N2) virus was the major contributor to influenza-associated all-cause and respiratory or circulatory deaths in both age groups. However, influenza A(H1N1) virus-associated influenza or pneumonia deaths were more common in those under 65 years old. Conclusions: Influenza-associated mortality was substantial during this period, especially in the elderly. By subtype, influenza A(H3N2) virus made the largest contribution to influenza-associated mortality.