• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.29 no.2
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• pp.18-21
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• 2010

Background: The kidney transplantation is increasing. The kidney donation of a living donor is more common in Korea than in other countries. Underwriters may encounter a case of a kidney donor. So we need to determine medical risk for a living kidney donor. Methods: Comparative mortality figures were calculated from a source article using mortality analysis methods. Results: Mortality Ratio of a living kidney donor was estimated to 106%, and Excess Death Rate was 0.89 per 1000. Discussion: A healthy kidney donor is quite within standard, even better in terms of medical risk.

• Asian Journal of Atmospheric Environment
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• v.7 no.4
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• pp.227-233
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• 2013

Scientific evidence shows that ambient air quality is one of the major environmental issues related to human health. The aim of this paper was to provide quantitative data on the short-term impact of air pollution on the mortality and morbidity of people living in Suwon city. There are some studies that have conducted health impacts of the air pollution in Seoul, Korea. However, there are few studies of the health effects on air pollution conducted in satellite cities of the Seoul Metropolitan area. For this reason, we investigated the health effects of air pollution in Suwon city, one of the highly populated satellite cities of Seoul. In order to estimate the short-term mortality impact of air pollution, this study applied the approach suggested by the World Health Organization (WHO), using AirQ2.2.3 software. Daily concentrations of $PM_{10}$, $O_3$, $NO_2$, and $SO_2$ were used to assess human exposure and health effects, in terms of attributable proportion of the health outcome, annual number of excess cases of mortality for all causes, and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases. Among the four considered air pollutants, $PM_{10}$ had the highest health impact on the 1,118,000 inhabitants of Suwon city, causing an excess of total mortality of 105 out of 4,254 in a year. Sulfur dioxide had the least health impact. Ozone and nitrogen dioxide each caused 42.7 and 81.3 excess cases of total mortality in a year. The results are also in line with those of other international studies that apply AirQ software.

• Atmosphere
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• v.18 no.4
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• pp.355-365
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• 2008

Synoptic and climatological characteristics of heat waves over Korea and Europe as well as their biometeorological impacts were compared. In July of 1994, excess deaths of about 2,388 in the population of South Korea are estimated by the modified excess death calculation algorithm ofKysely (2004). The excess deaths correspond to the net mortality increase of 12.5% in July of 1994 if we compare the estimated value to the expected number of deaths in this month (i.e., about 19,171). The comparative study of heat waves in Korea and Europe shows that the record-breaking heat waves in both regions are closely associated with prolonged droughts. In particular, reduction of soil moisture, precipitation and cloud cover and enhancement of insolation during the drought periods are very likely to be related to the increase in the intensity and the duration ofheat waves. Climate models predict that the frequency, intensity, and duration of heat waves in the 21 st century will be greatly enhanced in both areas. In order to reduce the biometeorological and socioeconomic impacts due to heat waves, not only the development of heat-related mortality prediction model that can be widely applied to many climate regimes, but also studies on the climatological association between extreme temperatures and abnormal hydrological cycle are needed.

• Journal of The Korean Society of Clinical Toxicology
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• v.7 no.2
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• pp.77-82
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• 2009

Purpose: In highly doses, endosulfan lowers the seizure threshold and elicits central nervous system stimulation, which can result in seizures, respiratory failure, and death. Management of seizure control is essential for survival and prognosis of intoxicated patients. This study assessed whether seizure time was an independent predictor mortality in patients with endosulfan poisoning. Methods: This retrospective study enrolled patients with endosulfan poisoning presenting to Masan Samsung Hospital and Gyeongsang National University Hospital from January 2003 to December 2008. The data were collected from clinical records and laboratory files. Using a multivariate logistic analysis, data on the total population was retrospectively analyzed for association with mortality. Results: Of the 24 patients with endosulfan poisoning, nineteen (79.1%) experienced seizure. The patients in the seizure group showed significantly lower Glasgow coma scale score, base excess, bicarbonate, and significant existence of mechanical ventilation, as compared to the non seizure group (n=5). Seizure, Glasgow coma scale score, systolic blood pressure, bicarbonate level, need for respiratory support, pulse rate, respiratory rate, pH, base excess, and seizure time were associated with mortality. The fatality rate of endosulfan poisoning was 54.1% with higher mortality among patients experiencing. Longer seizure time was associated with higher mortality. Conclusion: Seizure time can be a significant independent predictor of mortality in patients with acute endosulfan poisoning. Physicians should aggressively treat for seizure control in patients with acute endosulfan poisoning.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.185-196
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• 2024

Objectives: Excess mortality associated with long-term exposure to fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) has been documented. However, research on the disease burden following short-term exposure is scarce. We investigated the cause-specific mortality burden of short-term exposure to PM_2.5 by considering the potential non-linear concentration-response relationship in Korea. Methods: Daily cause-specific mortality rates and PM_2.5 exposure levels from 2010 to 2019 were collected for 8 Korean cities and 9 provinces. A generalized additive mixed model was employed to estimate the non-linear relationship between PM_2.5 exposure and cause-specific mortality levels. We assumed no detrimental health effects of PM_2.5 concentrations below 15 ㎍/m³. Overall deaths attributable to short-term PM_2.5 exposure were estimated by summing the daily numbers of excess deaths associated with ambient PM_2.5 exposure. Results: Of the 2 749 704 recorded deaths, 2 453 686 (89.2%) were non-accidental, 591 267 (21.5%) were cardiovascular, and 141 066 (5.1%) were respiratory in nature. A non-linear relationship was observed between all-cause mortality and exposure to PM_2.5 at lag0, whereas linear associations were evident for cause-specific mortalities. Overall, 10 814 all-cause, 7855 non-accidental, 1642 cardiovascular, and 708 respiratory deaths were attributed to short-term exposure to PM_2.5. The estimated number of all-cause excess deaths due to short-term PM_2.5 exposure in 2019 was 1039 (95% confidence interval, 604 to 1472). Conclusions: Our findings indicate an association between short-term PM_2.5 exposure and various mortality rates (all-cause, non-accidental, cardiovascular, and respiratory) in Korea over the period from 2010 to 2019. Consequently, action plans should be developed to reduce deaths attributable to short-term exposure to PM_2.5.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.57 no.2
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• pp.120-127
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• 2024

Objectives: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic led to increased mortality rates. To assess this impact, this ecological study aimed to estimate the excess death counts in southern Iran. Methods: The study obtained weekly death counts by linking the National Death Registry and Medical Care Monitoring Center repositories. The P-score was initially estimated using a simple method that involved calculating the difference between the observed and expected death counts. The interrupted time series analysis was then used to calculate the mean relative risk (RR) of death during the first year of the pandemic. Results: Our study found that there were 5571 excess deaths from all causes (P-score=33.29%) during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic, with 48.03% of these deaths directly related to COVID-19. The pandemic was found to increase the risk of death from all causes (RR, 1.26; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19 to 1.33), as well as in specific age groups such as those aged 35-49 (RR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32), 50-64 (RR, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.28 to 1.49), and ≥65 (RR, 1.29; 95% CI, 1.12 to 1.32) years old. Furthermore, there was an increased risk of death from cardiovascular diseases (RR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.11 to 1.22). Conclusions: There was a 26% increase in the death count in southern Iran during the COVID-19 pandemic. More than half of these excess deaths were not directly related to COVID-19, but rather other causes, with cardiovascular diseases being a major contributor.

• Journal of Environmental Science International
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• v.18 no.7
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• pp.767-780
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• 2009

This study investigates the standard, duration period and excess mortality of extreme heat using the standardized daily mortality data from 1991 to 2004, establishing a standard threshold Criteria for Heat Health Watch Warning System in Korea. It ultimately aims to provide the guidance in building up Heat Health Watch Warning System for Korea by suggesting the standard to quantify thermal stress from heat. The standard threshold Criteria for Heat Health Watch Warning System for Seoul metropolitan city takes into account both daily maximum temperature and daily maximum heat index(HI) and consists of four phases; caution, extreme caution, danger, and extreme danger. Extreme caution phase and danger phase are used as the advisory and warning of extreme heat, respectively. Since the nationwide distribution of the frequency of extreme heat day and the excess mortality rate shows little difference across regions, the standard threshold Criteria for Heat Health Watch Warning System for Seoul metropolitan city can be used for other regions.

• The Journal of the Korean life insurance medical association
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• v.26
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• pp.31-39
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• 2007

Background and main issue: In the Korean insurance market, an outstanding issue is the decrease of margin of risk ratio. This affects the solvency and profitability of insurance companies. Insurance medicine, which has been developed in Western countries, is so-called medical risk selection or medical underwriting. Medical risk selection is based on clinical follow-up study and mortality analysis methodology. Unfortunately, there have been few clinical follow-up studies, and no intercompany disease analysis system is available in the Korean insurance market. In practice, we use underwriting guidelines, which were developed by some global reinsurance companies. However, these guidelines were developed under clinical follow-up studies performed abroad. So, we cannot rule out underestimation of excess mortality factors such as mortality ratio, excess death rate, and life expectancy. It is necessary to perform medical assessment in claims administration. Comparing the insured's statement by medical records with products' benefit according to this procedure, we can make sound claim decisions and participate in the role of sound underwriting. We can call this scientific procedure as the verification of medical claims review. Another area of medical claims review is medical counsel for claims staff. Result: There is another insurance medicine in addition to medical risk selection. Independent medical assessment by medical records of insured is medical claims review. Medical claims review is composed of verification and counsel.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 1998.10b
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• pp.194-195
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• 1998

• 한국방재학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2008.02a
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• pp.89-92
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• 2008

The extreme heat watch warning system(EHWWS) that Korea Meterological Administration carried out a preliminary from July 1, 2007, considered both daily maximum temperature and daily maximum heat index simultaneously. It was requested revision of the standard level of EHWWS to solve the difficulty of forecasting occurred when we were considering two parameters simultaneously and we did not considering heat index according to areas. For this, we established three type standard, such as type 1 that considered both daily maximum temperature and daily maximum heat index, Under the extreme heat day that daily minimum temperature was more than $25^{\circ}C$, type 2 that considered daily maximum temperature and type 3 that considered only daily maximum heat index and then analyzed whether these 3 types satisfies the excess mortality of the extreme heat warning or not. As a results, type 1 and 2 were more explain away excess mortality each warning step than type 3. type 2 could also apply case of not to consider heat index according to areas and had a merit for extreme heat forecasting easily because the standard was simple. Therefore we think type 2 is more suitable and reasonable standard for Korea extreme heat watch warning system(KEHWWS) than type 1. In addition, we need to develop model that exactly predicts the excess mortality will be take place during the extreme heat warning and construct KEHWWS.