• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.46 no.4
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• pp.165-172
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• 2013

A noncommunicable disease (NCD) is a medical condition or disease that is by definition non-infectious and non-transmissible among people. Currently, NCDs are the leading causes of death and disease burden worldwide. The four main types of NCDs, including cardiovascular disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, and diabetes, result in more than 30 million deaths annually. To reduce the burden of NCDs on global health, current public health actions stress the importance of preventing, detecting, and correcting modifiable risk factors; controlling major modifiable risk factors has been shown to effectively reduce NCD mortality. The World Health Organization's World Health Report 2002 identified tobacco use, alcohol consumption, overweight, physical inactivity, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol as the most important risk factors for NCDs. Accordingly, the present report set out to review the prevalence and trends of these modifiable risk factors in the Korean population. Over the past few decades, we observed significant risk factor modifications of improved blood pressure control and decreased smoking rate. However, hypertension and cigarette smoking remained the most contributable factors of NCDs in the Korean population. Moreover, other major modifiable risk factors show no improvement or even worsened. The current status and trends in major modifiable risk factors reinforce the importance of prevention, detection, and treatment of risk factors in reducing the burden of NCDs on individuals and society.

• Annals of Pediatric Endocrinology and Metabolism
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• v.23 no.4
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• pp.182-195
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• 2018

Increasing prevalence of childhood obesity poses threats to the global health burden. Because this rising prevalence cannot be fully explained by traditional risk factors such as unhealthy diet and physical inactivity, early-life exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is recognized as emerging novel risk factors for childhood obesity. EDCs can disrupt the hormone-mediated metabolic pathways, affect children's growth and mediate the development of childhood obesity. Many organic pollutants are recently classified to be EDCs. In this review, we summarized the epidemiological and laboratory evidence related to EDCs and childhood obesity, and discussed the possible mechanisms underpinning childhood obesity and early-life exposure to non-persistent organic pollutants (phthalates, bisphenol A, triclosan) and persistent organic pollutants (dichlorodip henyltrichloroethane, polychlorinated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). Understanding the relationship between EDCs and childhood obesity helps to raise public awareness and formulate public health policy to protect the youth from exposure to the harmful effects of EDCs.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.4
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• pp.289-301
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• 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a chronic airway inflammation characterized by fixed airflow limitation and chronic respiratory symptoms, such as cough, sputum, and dyspnea. COPD is a progressive disease characterized by a decline in lung function. During the natural course of the disease, acute deterioration of symptoms leading to hospital visits can occur and influence further disease progression and subsequent exacerbation. Moreover, COPD is not only restricted to pulmonary manifestations but can present with other systemic diseases as comorbidities or systemic manifestations, including lung cancer, cardiovascular disease, pulmonary hypertension, sarcopenia, and metabolic abnormalities. These pulmonary and extrapulmonary conditions lead to the aggravation of dyspnea, physical inactivity, decreased exercise capacity, functional decline, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality. In addition, pneumonia, which is attributed to both COPD itself and an adverse effect of treatment (especially the use of inhaled and/or systemic steroids), can occur and lead to further deterioration in the prognosis of COPD. This review summarizes the long-term outcomes of patients with COPD. In addition, recent studies on the prediction of adverse outcomes are summarized in the last part of the review.

• 한국체육학회지인문사회과학편
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• v.57 no.6
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• pp.263-272
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• 2018

This study examined the association of gait variability and physical fitness with frailty status in older women. In a cross-sectional design, 168 elderly women, aged 65 years and older (75.07±5.40 years), measured body composition, gait parameters gait variability, physical fitness variables, MMSE-DS and CES-D. Subjects were classified as robust, pre-frail, and frailty based on the Fried et al.(2001) criteria for frailty weight loss, exhaustion, low hand-grip strength, low gait speed, and physical inactivity. Logistic regression analyses were used to determine the odds ratio (ORs) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of frailty status for having gait variability and physical fitness levels. Compared to the robust group (OR=1), the frailty group had significantly higher ORs of having terminal double limb stance (OR=1.48, 95% CI=0.10-2.21, p=.049), step cadence (OR=2.06, 95%CI=1.20-3.43, p=.009) variability, and significantly lower ORs of having upper-strength (OR=0.49, 95%CI=0.31-0.77, p=.002) even after adjusting for age, education, comorbidity, K-IADL, MMSE-KC and CES-D score. The finding of this study suggested that terminal double limb stance, step cadence and upper body muscular strength were independent predictors of frailty.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.12 no.2
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• pp.358-368
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• 2012

The purpose of this study was to discover the factors affecting on physical activity levels of community-dwelling older adults in Korea. The data was analyzed on 12,322 older adults, aged 65 or above, from the 2008 National Elderly Survey. The results of this study were as follows: First, 29.9% of older men and 46.4% of older women were classified as physically inactivity. Second, age(OR=1.44, p<.001), education(OR=1.17, p=.026), location of residence(OR=1.19, p=.016), perceived health status(OR=2.18, p<.001), chronic disease(OR=1.23, p=.020), pain(OR=1.24, p=.011), ADL(OR=1.86, p<.001), fear of fall(OR=1.26, p=.003), depression(OR=1.78, p<.001) predicted physical activity levels in older men. Age(OR=1.54, p<.001), perceived health status(OR=1.63, p<.001), pain(OR=1.45, p<.001), falling experience(OR=1.24, p=.001), ADL(OR=1.72, p<.001), depression(OR=1.46, p<.001) predicted physical activity levels in older women. It is suggested that the findings of this study are helpful to develop effective physical activity interventions for older adults.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.39 no.7
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• pp.684-691
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• 2006

Abdominal obesity (AO) is a strong risk factor for type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease, which has shown a remarkable increase in Korea. This study aimed to identify prevalence of AO and related risk factors in Korean adults. A total of 5,132 men and women aged 20-85 years old from the 2001 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey were included in the analyses. AO was defined as waist circumference >=90 cm in men and >=85 cm in women as proposed by Korean Society of Obesity. Multiple logistic regression was carried out to identify risk factors for AO. Three models were specified: (i) demographic and socioeconomic factors (model 1: age, education, poverty income ratio, employment), (ii) lifestyle factors and covariates (model 2: physical activity, cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, dietary quality, type 2 diabetes, co-morbidity) and (iii) demographic, socioeconomic and lifestyle factors (model 3). The prevalence of AO was 24.1 % in men, 23.5% in women. High poverty income ratio in men and low education attainment in women were risk factors for AO in model. 1. There was a significant association of AO with alcohol consumption, physical inactivity and dietary quality in men, alcohol consumption and cigarette smoking in women. These factors except alcohol consumption in men became insignificant in model 3. This findings underscore the importance of developing AO prevention programs in Korea that target the at risk groups identified in this study. A program focusing on low income men or less educated women would be more efficient.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.15 no.21
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• pp.9535-9541
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• 2014

Background: Identifying risk factors of breast cancer is a key point for preventive strategies to reduce the incidence. The aim of current study was to determine most important risk factors for breast cancer in the Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) using a systematic review. Materials and Methods: PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science till August 24, 2012 and the reference lists of all included studies were searched. Analytic studies which had reported odds ratios (OR), relative risk (RR) or required data to calculate them were included. A total of 343 studies were critically appraised and finally 30 studies were meta-analyzed. Heterogeneity between the studies was assessed by $I^2$ and Cochran's Q. Egger's test was used to assess publication bias. Results: Twenty five casecontrol studies, one nested case-control and four cohort studies were included. The largest ORs were obtained for history of no live birth (2.25; 95%CI: 1.58-3.18), body mass index (BMI) more than 30 (2.21; 95%CI: 1.71-2.36), age at first pregnancy more than 30 years old (1.52; 95%CI: 1.30-1.77) and meat consumption more than three times per week (1.39; 95%CI: 1.03-1.87). The other important predictors were higher education and smoking as risk factors, physical activity and ovulatory stimulating medication as protective factors. Conclusions: The most important predictors of breast cancer in EMR were history of no live birth, BMI more than 30, age at first pregnancy more than 30 years old, physical inactivity and smoking. Almost all these risk factors are consistent with known risk factors for this cancer in other parts of the world.

• Journal of Digital Convergence
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• v.16 no.2
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• pp.251-259
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• 2018

This study aimed to identify the risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) among age groups using the Framingham risk score (FRS). The research design used was a cross sectional descriptive study using the Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2013-2015. Data from 5211 men, between the ages of 30-74 was analyzed. After adjusting for age, the result of logistic regression analysis showed that obesity (OR=2.51 95% CI=2.05-3.07), physical inactivity (OR=1.71, 95% CI=1.39-2.10), heavy alcohol drinking (OR=1.33, 95% CI=1.09-1.62), and dietary fiber intake (OR=0.99, 95% CI=0.98-0.99) were presented as predictors of CVD. Obesity was considered to be a particularly important predictor of CVD for young and middle-aged men. This result will be used for developing intervention relating to lifestyle modification for young and middle-aged men.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
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• v.14 no.2
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• pp.1083-1087
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• 2013

Background: Colorectal cancer has several modifiable behavioural risk factors but their relationship to the risk of colon and rectum cancer separately and between countries with high and low incidence is not clear. Methods: Data from participants in the Asia Pacific Cohort Studies Collaboration (APCSC) were used to estimate mortality from colon (International Classification of Diseases, revision 9 (ICD-9) 153, ICD-10 C18) and rectum (ICD-9 154, ICD-10 C19-20) cancers. Data on age, body mass index (BMI), serum cholesterol, height, smoking, physical activity, alcohol and diabetes mellitus were entered into Cox proportional hazards models. Results: 600,427 adults contributed 4,281,239 person-years follow-up. The mean ages (SD) for Asian and Australia/New Zealand cohorts were 44.0 (9.5) and 53.4 (14.5) years, respectively. 455 colon and 158 rectum cancer deaths were observed. Increasing age, BMI and attained adult height were associated with increased hazards of death from colorectal cancer, and physical activity was associated with a reduced hazard. After multiple adjustment, any physical activity was associated with a 28% lower hazard of colon cancer mortality (HR 0.72, 95%CI 0.53-0.96) and lower rectum cancer mortality (HR 0.75, 95%CI 0.45-1.27). A 2cm increase in height increased colon and all colorectal cancer mortality by 7% and 6% respectively. Conclusions: Physical inactivity and greater BMI are modifiable risk factors for colon cancer in both Western and Asian populations. Further efforts are needed to promote physical activity and reduce obesity while biological research is needed to understand the mechanisms by which they act to cause cancer mortality.

• 한국노년학
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• v.29 no.4
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• pp.1261-1275
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• 2009

Age related decrease of muscle strength, balance, and gait abilities bring about physical inactivity in the elderly. Virtual reality (VR) training has been used successfully to rehabilitate functional balance and mobility in elderly subjects. This study was aimed at determining the effect of VR-based exercise programs by using a video game on the muscle strength, balance, and gait abilities in the elderly. 48 old people were randomly divided into two groups; VR-group (men: 11, women: 14, age: 68.42yrs) and control group (men: 10, women: 13, age: 67.58yrs). VR-group performed an exercise program twice a week for 8 weeks and control group had no intervention. The VR-based exercise program was composed of warm up(10 mins), VR-program(40 mins), and cool down(10mins). It was performed by playstation eyetoy play that provided visual and auditory feedback as well as movements of the upper and lower extremities. Muscle strengths of the knee and ankle were measured using manual muscle tester. Static balance was estimated using computerized posturography. Dynamic balance was measured by Timed up and go test (TUG), Functional reach test (FRT). 10m walk test and 6-min walk test were used to assess gait abilities. After the completion of the VR-exercise program, muscle strength, balance, and gait abilities were improved significantly (p<0.05). In conclusion, the VR-based exercise program showed improvement on the muscle strength, balance, and gait ability in the elderly. This exercise program is both effective and interesting for this age group.