• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.45 no.5
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• pp.283-290
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• 2012

Objectives: People who have chronic diseases, as well as gait imbalance or psychiatric drug use, may be susceptible to injuries from falls and slips. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of musculoskeletal diseases on incidental fall-related injuries among adults in Korea. Methods: We analyzed data from the 4th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2007-2009), which are national data obtained by a rolling survey sampling method. The 1-year incidence of fall-related injuries was defined by health service utilization within the last year due to injury occurring after a slip and fall, and musculoskeletal diseases included osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoporosis, and back pain. To evaluate the effects of preexisting musculoskeletal diseases, adults diagnosed before the last year were considered the exposed group, and adults who had never been diagnosed were the unexposed group. Results: The weighted lifetime prevalence of musculoskeletal disease was 32 540 per 100 000 persons. Musculoskeletal diseases were associated with a higher risk of fall-related injury after adjustment for sex, age, residence, household income, education, occupation, visual disturbance, paralysis due to stroke, and medication for depression (odds ratio [OR], 1.41; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.03 to 1.93). As the number of comorbid musculoskeletal diseases increased, the risk of fall-induced injuries increased (p-value for trend <0.001). In particular, patients who had any musculoskeletal condition were at much higher risk of recurrent fall-related injuries (OR, 6.20; 95% CI, 1.06 to 36.08). Conclusions: One must take into account the risk of fall-related injuries and provide prevention strategies among adults who have musculoskeletal diseases.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
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• v.27
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• pp.6.1-6.8
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• 2012

Objectives: Childhood allergic diseases are a major concern because they lead to a heavy economic burden and poor quality of life. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of childhood atopic dermatitis, asthma, allergic rhinitis, and the comorbidity of allergic diseases in Seoul, Korea. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey between May and October 2010 to evaluate the prevalence of childhood allergic diseases, including atopic dermatitis, asthma, and allergic rhinitis, using a questionnaire from the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood group. Each questionnaire was completed by the parent or guardian of a child. Results: In the 31,201 children studied, the prevalence of atopic dermatitis symptoms in the past 12 months was 19.3% in children 0 to 3 years of age, 19.7% in children 4 to 6 years of age, 16.7% in children 7 to 9 years of age, and 14.5% in children 10 to 13 years of age (p for trend < 0.001). The prevalence of asthma in these age groups was 16.5%, 9.8%, 6.5%, and 5.4%, respectively (p for trend < 0.001). The prevalence of allergic rhinitis in these age groups was 28.5%, 38.0%, 38.5%, and 35.9%, respectively (p for trend = 0.043). The percentage of subjects with both atopic dermatitis and asthma, both asthma and allergic rhinitis, or both atopic dermatitis and allergic rhinitis was 2.5%, 4.7%, and 8.7%, respectively. The prevalence of comorbid allergic diseases decreased with age (p for trend < 0.001). Conclusions: Our study revealed that the prevalence of some allergic diseases, such as atopic dermatitis and asthma, was relatively high in very young children and that all of the principal allergic diseases in children often co-exist.

• Research in Community and Public Health Nursing
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.303-311
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• 2015

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to survey patient activation for self-management and to identify factors associated with patient activation for self-management among community residents with osteoarthritis in Korea. Methods: Cross-sectional study design was used. Survey data were collected from 270 community residents with osteoarthritis through direct interviews. Studied factors included patient activation, joint pain, physical function, depression, and general characteristics. Data were analyzed using chi-squared test, t-test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. Results: The participants' mean score of patient activation was $56.0{\pm}16.61$. The mean score of each factor was $10.6{\pm}5.89$ for joint pain, $5.5{\pm}3.56$ for physical function, and $19.3{\pm}10.01$ for depression. The patient activation level was significantly associated with depression and general characteristics such as education, religion, comorbid hypertension, and use of medical clinics (p<.05). Conclusion: The findings suggest that depression, education, religion, comorbid hypertension, and use of medical clinics may be important factors to be considered when developing programs of patient activation for self-management. This is the first study that measured patient activation, and further studies are suggested to find factors associated with patient activation for self-management among community residents with other chronic diseases.

• Journal of Sasang Constitutional Medicine
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.156-164
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• 2014

Objectives The purpose of this study was to analyze the Sasang constitution and psychological traits of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients and to utilize the results in treatment and management. Methods The differences of Sasang Constitution distribution, psychological characteristics, comorbid disorders between ALS group of 26 patients and general group of 1132 persons were investigated and analyzed. Results There was no significant different distribution of Sasang Constitution between ALS group and general group but there was Yang-like personality tendency in ALS group than general group. In overall constitution, ALS group had the high prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders and diabetes than general group. In Soyangin constitution, ALS group had a high prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders than genral group. In Taeeumin constitution, ALS group had a high prevalence rate of diabetes and hypertension than general group. Conclusion ALS patients have the Yang-like personality. It is due to the adaptation of personality on the environmental change or coping strategy on diseases rather than the characteristics of congenital Sasang Constitution.

• The Korean Journal of Pain
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• v.37 no.2
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• pp.91-106
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• 2024

The mechanisms of the chronic pain and depression comorbidity have gained significant attention in recent years. The complement system, widely involved in central nervous system diseases and mediating non-specific immune mechanisms in the body, remains incompletely understood in its involvement in the comorbidity mechanisms of chronic pain and depression. This review aims to consolidate the findings from recent studies on the complement system in chronic pain and depression, proposing that it may serve as a promising shared therapeutic target for both conditions. Complement proteins C1q, C3, C5, as well as their cleavage products C3a and C5a, along with the associated receptors C3aR, CR3, and C5aR, are believed to have significant implications in the comorbid mechanism. The primary potential mechanisms encompass the involvement of the complement cascade C1q/C3-CR3 in the activation of microglia and synaptic pruning in the amygdala and hippocampus, the role of complement cascade C3/C3a-C3aR in the interaction between astrocytes and microglia, leading to synaptic pruning, and the C3a-C3aR axis and C5a-C5aR axis to trigger inflammation within the central nervous system. We focus on studies on the role of the complement system in the comorbid mechanisms of chronic pain and depression.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.198-207
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• 2015

ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and chronic total occlusion (CTO) of coronary artery are well-known atherosclerotic vascular diseases. However, the difference of intima-media thickness and plaque characteristics of carotid arteries between STEMI and CTO patients were not directly compared in previous studies. Medical records of a total of 158 (101 STEMI, 57 CTO) patients, who underwent carotid artery ultrasonography, were selected for the analysis. The baseline characteristics, ultrasonography findings, and clinical outcomes of the two groups were compared. The prevalence of hypertension, diabetes mellitus, and dyslipidemia was significantly higher in CTO patients. Carotid intima-media thickness ($0.97{\pm}0.13$ vs. $0.78{\pm}0.17cm$, P < 0.0001) and number of plaques ($2.2{\pm}1.0$ vs. $1.7{\pm}1.2$, P < 0.0001) were greater in CTO than STEMI patients. Multiple (${\geq}3$) or echogenic plaques were more frequently observed in CTO patients. During the median follow-up duration of 27 months, major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 31% of CTO and 14% of STEMI patients (P = 0.008). We found that, compared with STEMI, CTO patients have higher burden of carotid artery atherosclerosis associated with more comorbid diseases and poor clinical outcomes.

• Journal of Korean Clinical Nursing Research
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• v.17 no.1
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• pp.27-34
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• 2011

Purpose: The objective of this research was to measure health literacy level of the visitors of a university hospital's out patient clinic and to consider its influence factors. Methods: Subjects were 400 visitors in an outpatient clinic of a university hospital. By using self-report questionnaire which included Newest Vital Sign (NVS) and general information inquiry, the level of health literacy and its influence factors were measured. The data were analyzed by using t-test, ANOVA, and Pearson's correlation. Results: The NVS score of subjects was $3.54({\pm}1.91)$ out of maximum 6 scale. The factors that have significant relationships with the health literacy were age, sex, marital status, educational background, monthly income, health information source, number of diseases, number of medications and drinking status. Participants who are men, in old age, having lack of supportive relationship, having low levels of education, having low income, having more comorbid diseases & medications, tend to have lower NVS score compared to others. Conclusion: We suggest extending our research results for evaluating the risky group to improve the health literacy and to develop the strategic methods for better health outcomes.

• Journal of Gastric Cancer
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• v.12 no.1
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• pp.26-35
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• 2012

Purpose: Emergency operations for perforated peptic ulcer are associated with a high incidence of postoperative complications. While several studies have investigated the impact of perioperative risk factors and underlying diseases on the postoperative morbidity after abdominal surgery, only a few have analyzed their role in perforated peptic ulcer disease. The purpose of this study was to determine any possible associations between postoperative morbidity and comorbid disease or perioperative risk factors in perforated peptic ulcer. Materials and Methods: In total, 142 consecutive patients, who underwent surgery for perforated peptic ulcer, at a single institution, between January 2005 and October 2010 were included in this study. The clinical data concerning the patient characteristics, operative methods, and complications were collected retrospectively. Results: The postoperative morbidity rate associated with perforated peptic ulcer operations was 36.6% (52/142). Univariate analysis revealed that a long operating time, the open surgical method, age (${\geq}60$), sex (female), high American Society of Anesthesiologists (ASA) score and presence of preoperative shock were significant perioperative risk factors for postoperative morbidity. Significant comorbid risk factors included hypertension, diabetes mellitus and pulmonary disease. Multivariate analysis revealed a long operating time, the open surgical method, high ASA score and the presence of preoperative shock were all independent risk factors for the postoperative morbidity in perforated peptic ulcer. Conclusions: A high ASA score, preoperative shock, open surgery and long operating time of more than 150 minutes are high risk factors for morbidity. However, there is no association between postoperative morbidity and comorbid disease in patients with a perforated peptic ulcer.

• Journal of the Korean Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.133-140
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• 1994

Conduct disorder is a heterogenous disorder of various etiology affecting 4-10% of school-age children. There is suggestive evidence that the comorbid group of conduct disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder is different from these two separated diseases groups. There findings suggest that this comorbid group may present a meaningful subgroup. This study is conducted to examine the content validity of hyperkinetic conduct disorder that accepted first in International Classification of Disease 10th edition. The results are summarized as follows : 1) Using Conners Parenting Rating Scale, Parent Rating Scale Form for DSM-III-R, the mean scores of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder in conduct disorder were significantly higher compared with those of normal controls. 2) 72.4% of conduct disorder and 41.5% of normal control groups showed simultaneous attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. The diffenence between conduct disorder and normal control groups was significant. There were many previous informations that children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder had conduct disorder as comorbid disorder and these result show that children with conduct disorder also significantly had attention attention deficit hyperactivity disorder reversibly. Then these show that hyperkinetic conduct disorder-diagnosis used when both the overall criteria for hyperkinetic disorders and the overall criteria for conduct disorders are met-have satisfactory content validity. Biological, familial or long term studies are needed to further validate this diagnostic category.

• Anxiety and mood
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• v.3 no.1
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• pp.3-7
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• 2007

Anxiety disorder is likely caused by an interaction of multiple loci in brain, rather than a single locus. Hyperactive neurotransmitter circuits between the cortex, thalamus, amygdala, and hypothalamus are responsible for production of anxiety symptoms. Familial studies performed on anxiety disorder suggested that anxiety disorder should be caused by genetic etiology. Numerous linkage and association studies showed different genetic loci of anxiety disorder. Candidate genes have been focused on important neurotransmitters, neuropeptide, or genes affecting neuronal growth, development, protection or apoptosis. Anxiety disorder has various symptoms and comorbid diseases in family or proband. Therefore, further studies focused on symptomatic dimension of anxiety disorder or responses to drugs are required.