• Journal of Korean Academy of Nursing
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• v.41 no.2
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• pp.149-156
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• 2011

Purpose: This study seeks to examine prevalence, risk factors, and quality of life of Korean adults with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). Methods: From the database of the Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES IV-1, 2008), the researchers selected 1,458 adults over the age of 45. The original study was a population-based epidemiological survey of health and nutrition with a stratified multistage clustered probability design. Prevalence of COPD was computed on the basis of the sampling weight. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, ${\chi}^2$ test, t-test and multiple logistic regression with the SPSS WIN 18.0 and SAS Ver. 9.1 program. Results: The prevalence of COPD was 18.0% among people older than 45 yr. The prevalence of current smokers was 19.7% in this population and 26.3% in individuals with COPD. Age, gender, education, and smoking levels were found to be risk factors for COPD. Significant difference in quality of life was founded between adults with COPD and the healthy controls. Conclusion: The results of this study indicate that COPD is a highly prevalent disease in Korea. To reduce the prevalence of COPD and improve health-related quality of life in patients with COPD, nursing interventions must focus on prevention of risk factors.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.29 no.4 s.55
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• pp.705-719
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• 1996

Since the 1960s, Korea has achieved rapid economic growth, longer life expectancy, accelerated urbanization and a westenization of diet. Cardiovascular disease has become the leading cause of death; however the prevalence of ischemic heart disease(IHD) remains low. A cross-sectional multiphasic screening service for 18,426 persons aged $30\sim64$ years in a Medical Aid Program in Kyonggi-do Province was conducted from 1991 to 1993. Total cholesterol(TC), fasting blood glucose(FBG), blood pressure(BP), and electrocardiographic(EKG) data were collected. The result as follows ; 1. On the EKG findings, the age-adjusted prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was 1.45% in men and 2.06% in women. 2. The mean blood pressure was 122.9/78.8mmHg. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension was 11.05% in men and 9.02% in women. The prevalence of hypertension showed increasing tendency according to age increase. In all age group, the prevalence of hypertension was higher in men than women. 3. The mean total cholesterol level was 184.4mg/dl in men and 189.2mg/dl in women. The age-adjusted prevalence of hypercholesterolemia was 4.88% in men and 5.67% in women. The total cholesterol level showed increasing tendency according to age increase, except $55\sim64$ age group in men. 4. The prevalence of hyperglycemia is 5.8%. The age-adjusted prevalence of hyperglycemia is 6.72% in men and 4.50% in women. The prevalence of hyperglycemia showed increasing tendency according to age increase. 5. On the EKG findings, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypertension than normal, in all age group of men and women less than 40 years-old. Only in women more t]fan 40 years-old, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia. Nevertheless there is not statistical association between ischemia heart disease and previous risk factors in other age group, the prevalence of myocardial ischemia and myocardial infarction was higher in hypertension, hypercholesterolemia and hyperglycemia than normal. The result of this study suggest that relationships between major risk factor of ischemic heart disease and ischemic heart disease is similar to existing theory.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.53 no.3
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• pp.355-359
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• 2015

Hydatid disease imposing serious threat on human health and great loss in live-stock pastoralism remains a major public health problem in western China. To assess and monitor the effect of control program on transmission dynamics, we used the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered sheep at slaughterhouse as an indicator during the period of 2007 to 2013 in Emin County, Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, China. The results showed a significant decline trend of prevalence in all age groups during the 7 years when the control program was implemented; particularly, the rate was reduced by 72% after first 3 years. Among the sheep slaughtered, the age distribution evidenced that the prevalence increased significantly as the sheep grew older. The baseline data indicated that the rate was 4.5% at the age <1, 6.7% at age 2~, and reached to the highest 17.9% at age ${\geq}4$ years. Earlier response to the intervention pressure was seen in the sheep at the younger age. Significant decline started from 2008 at the age <1, from 2009 at age of 1~, 2010 at 2~ to 3~, and the latest, in 2012 at age ${\geq}4$. This study demonstrated that the prevalence of cystic echinococcosis in slaughtered sheep may be used as an indicator to assess and monitor the transmission status during and after control program providing information for betterment of performance to sustain control strength.

• Journal of Korean society of Dental Hygiene
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• v.18 no.5
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• pp.631-641
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• 2018

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to confirm the relationship between socioeconomic characteristics and the prevalence of periodontal disease, with a focus on employment status, in a representative sample of Korean adults aged 19-39 years. Methods: Data were obtained from 3,178 adults who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, health-related questionnaires, and an oral examination. Socioeconomic, demographic, and oral health-related behavior data were adopted as independent variables. The chi-square test was used to assess differences in the distribution of socioeconomic status, oral health behavior, and nutrition factors according to employment status. Logistic regression analysis was performed to confirm the relationships between the prevalence of periodontitis and the related variables. Results: Significant differences in sex, educational level, income, marital status, smoking status, prevalence of periodontitis, number of dental check-ups in a year, and unmet dental care were confirmed according to employment status. The prevalence of periodontal disease was not significantly related to employment status. Conclusions: These results suggest a significant difference in periodontal disease according to socioeconomic factors in Korean adults. However, the prevalence of periodontal disease was not related to employment status. To prevent the progression of periodontal disease, attention should be paid to oral health, time available for dental treatment, smoking cessation, and use of floss.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.13-22
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• 2016

Objectives: By using six years of KNHANES dataset (2008~2013) about 60 ages older people, we analyzed how the depression prevalence rate in the elderly is influenced by disease and activity limit. Especially, to add a sense of more reality, we adopted stress experience as a control variable to see how the depression prevalence rate in the elderly is influenced by disease and activity limit depending on the stress experience. Methods : We adopted six years of KNHANES dataset, indicating that our results were based on long period of time capable of considering temporal patterns in the depression prevalence rate in the elderly. Total 1,160 elderly people in KNHANES were selected for our empirical analyses. Dependent variable is either 0 or 1 depending on whether the elderly people feel depression. Main explanatory variables for our study include disease and activity limit. Logistic regression analysis was applied for two group such as stress experience and non-experience. Results : According to the empirical results, stress factor is found to be significant in explaining the depression in the elderly. Depression prevalence rate increased when the elderly has stress experience: chronical disease(OR=1.650), chronical disease with activity limit(OR=3.388), non-chronical disease with stress(OR=11.841) chronical disease with stress (OR=13.561) and chronical disease with activity limit and stress(OR=28.691). Conclusions: The finding suggest that the Countermeasures of elderly's depression alleviation should include stress management.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.390-395
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• 2015

There have been a few studies reporting the epidemiology of moyamoya disease in Korea. Previous studies revealed relatively high prevalence and incidence of moyamoya disease in Korea and Japan. This study was designed to provide the latest epidemiologic information of moyamoya disease in Korea. We analyzed a database comprising of 50 million people covered in Korea by the National Health Insurance Service to calculate the prevalence. The incidence was estimated by eliminating the duplicated records of previous 3 years. We summarized the prevalence and incidence according to age, sex, and local distribution. In addition, the chronological changes were demonstrated with direct standardization using the 2010 population structure information. The standardized prevalence was 6.5 per 100000 persons in 2005, which was increased to 18.1 in 2013. In the same period, standardized incidence was increased from 2.7 to 4.3 per 100000 persons. The prevalence for men was 4.9 and 8.3 for women in 2005. In 2013, the prevalence had increased for men and women to 13.8 and 25.3, respectively. The incidence for men and women was 2.2 and 3.2, respectively, in 2005. It had increased to 3.5 and 5.7, respectively. The mean age of patients was 33.5 in 2005 and increased to 42.5 in 2013. The peak prevalent age group had shifted slightly to the older age groups, with chronologically consistent female predominance. The prevalence was highest in Jeollabuk province and lowest in Ulsan city.

• Journal of Korean Neurosurgical Society
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• v.58 no.2
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• pp.112-118
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• 2015

Objective : Thoracic ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF) is a relatively rare disease. Because of ambiguous clinical symptom, it is difficult for early diagnosis of OLF and subsequent treatment can be delayed or missed. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to comprehensively assess the prevalence and distribution of thoracic OLF by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and coexisting spinal disease in Korean patients with back pain or leg pain. Methods : The sample included 2134 Korean patients who underwent MRI evaluation for back pain. The prevalence and distribution of thoracic OLF were assessed using lumbar MRI with whole spine sagittal images. Additionally, we examined the presence of coexisting lumbar and cervical diseases. The presence of thoracic OLF as well as clinical parameters such as age, sex, and surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Results : The prevalence of thoracic OLF in total patients was 16.9% (360/2134). The prevalence tended to increase with aging and was higher in women than in men. The lower thoracic segment of T10-11 was the most frequently affected segment. Of the 360 patients with OLF, 31.9% had coexisting herniated thoracic discs at the same level. Approximately 74% of the patients with OLF had coexisting lumbar and cervical disease. Nine (2.5%) of 360 OLF patients underwent surgery for thoracic lesion. Conclusion : The prevalenceof thoracic OLF was relatively higher than those of previous reports. And coexisting lumbar and cervical disease were very frequent. Therefore, we should check coexisting spinal diseases and the exact diagnostic localization of ossification besides lumbar disease.

• Parasites, Hosts and Diseases
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• v.54 no.2
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• pp.215-219
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• 2016

Clonorchis sinensis is currently the most important parasite affecting public health problems in the Republic of Korea. We investigated the prevalence of C. sinensis infection among residents living along 5 major rivers in Korea. A total of 42,562 individual stool samples were collected from 37 localities and examined using the formalin-ether sedimentation technique. Helminth eggs were detected in 4,052 (9.5%) residents and 3,586 (8.4%) were infected with C. sinensis. The egg positive rate of C. sinensis in Nakdong, Seomjin, Geum, Yeongsan, and Han River was 11.7%, 9.9%, 6.5%, 3.1%, and 1.0%, respectively. The overall prevalence of clonorchiasis by sex was 11.2% in males and 6.2% in females. The age-prevalence was the highest in the 50-59 years band. It has been reconfirmed that the endemicity of clonorchiasis is higher in southern areas of Korea, especially along Nakdong and Seomjin Rivers. A combination of continuous control programs with health education initiatives is urgently required in these highly endemic areas of clonorchiasis in Korea.

• Journal of Bone Metabolism
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• v.25 no.4
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• pp.213-217
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• 2018

Patients with gastrointestinal disease (GI) are at risk for osteopenia or osteoporosis, which can lead to fractures. Although these patients may be at risk from a young age, gastroenterologists often overlook this fact in practice. There are well-known GI diseases associated with osteopenia and osteoporosis, such as the post-gastrectomy state, inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), and celiac disease. As there is an increase in the prevalence of IBD patients, newly diagnosed celiac disease in adulthood, and gastric cancer survivors following gastrectomy, bone disease in these patients becomes an important issue. Here, we have discussed osteoporosis and fractures in GI disease, especially in the postgastrectomy state, IBD, and celiac disease. Although the pathogenesis of bone loss in each disease has not been fully identified, we have confirmed that the prevalence of osteoporosis and fractures in each of these diseases is high. There are scarce studies comparing the prevalence of osteoporosis or osteoporotic fractures in GI disease patients with studies in postmenopausal women, and specific guidelines for their management in each disease have not been established. Intensive surveillance and management are needed to ensure that these patients attain peak bone mass for age and sex to prevent fractures.

• Journal of the Korean Society of School Health
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.269-277
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• 2001

This study examined the health conditions of schoolteachers in terms of the prevalence rate and risk factors for liver disease. A cohort design was conducted for 21,319 teachers who were born from 1953 to 1957. The cohort was constructed for teachers who had no disease history such as liver disease, hypertension, cerebral vascular disease, heart disease, diabetes mellitus and cancer, and had 'normal' results from liver disease examinations in 1998. They were followed up from 1998 to 2000. SAS 6.12 was used for the data analysis. The results were as follows; (1) Prevalence rates of liver disease per 1,000 people in 1998 were 43.0. (2) The 2-year cumulative incidence of liver disease was 433/16,103(26.9/1000 persons). (3) Factors such as sex, age, school type(private or public), drinking, smoking, exercise, BMI, weight gain, fasting-blood sugar levels and total cholesterol levels were statistically significant. The significant risk factors of liver disease be identified from the multiple logistic regression analysis were age, sex(male), drinking, smoking, BMI, weight gain, fasting-blood sugar levels, and total cholesterol levels.