• Korean Circulation Journal
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• v.53 no.5
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• pp.313-327
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• 2023

Background and Objectives: Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare but fatal disease. Recent advances in PAH-specific drugs have improved its outcomes, although the healthcare burden of novel therapeutics may lead to a discrepancy in outcomes between developing and developed countries. We analyzed how the epidemiology and clinical features of PAH has changed through the rapidly advancing healthcare infrastructure in South Korea. Methods: PAH was defined according to a newly devised 3-component algorithm. Using a nationwide health insurance claims database, we delineated annual trends in the prevalence, incidence, medication prescription pattern, and 5-year survival of PAH in Korea. Cumulative survival and potential predictors of mortality were also assessed among 2,151 incident PAH cases. Results: Between 2002 or 2004 and 2018, the prevalence and incidence of PAH increased 75-fold (0.4 to 29.9 per million people) and 12-fold (0.5 to 6.3 per million person-years), respectively. The proportion of patients on combination PAH-specific drug therapy has also steadily increased up to 29.0% in 2018. Among 2,151 incident PAH cases (median [interquartile range] age, 50 [37-62] years; 67.2% female), the 5-year survival rate and median survival duration were 71.8% and 13.1 years, respectively. Independent predictors of mortality were age, sex, etiology of PAH, diabetes, dyslipidemia, and chronic kidney disease. Conclusions: This nationwide study delineated that the prevalence and incidence of PAH have grown rapidly in Korea since the early 2000s. The use of combination therapy has also increased, and the 5-year survival rate of PAH in Korea was similar to those in western countries.

• Journal of the East Asian Society of Dietary Life
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.378-385
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• 1999

A reduced NaCl intake for the general population of the world has been recommended to reduce the overall blood pressure level and hence to reduce the overall incidence of cardiovascular disease. A high NaCl diet convincingly contributes to elevated arterial pressure in humans and animal models of hypertension. Among individuals there is considerable variability of blood pressure responsiveness to NaCl intake. In normotensive as well as hypertensive subjects, blood pressure can be judged to be salt sensitivity (SS) when observed to vary directly and substantially with the net intake of NaCl. The prevalence of SS in normotensive adults in the U.S. ranges from 15% to 42% and in hypertensive adults from 28% to 74%. SS is a risk factor for hypertension and may be an important marker in the identification of children for hypertension prevention programs. High NaCl intakes produce expansion of the extracellular fluid volume and thus increase blood pressure. Nonchloride salts of sodium does not expand the extracellular fluid volume and does not alter blood pressure. Blood pressure response to NaCl may be modified by other components of the diet. Low dietary intakes of potassium or calcium augment NaCl-induced increases of blood pressure. Conversely, high dietary intakes of potassium or calcium attenuate NaCl-induced hypertension. A greater intakes of potassium or calcium may prevent or delay the occurrence of hypertension. SS occurs when dietary potassium is even marginally deficient but is dose-dependently suppressed when dietary potassium is increased within its normal range. Orally administered KHCO$_3$, abundant in fruits and vegetates, but not KCl has a calcium-retaining effect which may contributed to its reversal of pressor effect of dietary NaCl. Since nutrients other than NaCl also affect blood pressure levels, a reduced NaCl intake should be only one component of a nutritional strategy to lower blood pressure.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.26 no.3
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• pp.185-194
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• 2016

Background: The purpose of this study is to forecast changes in the prevalence of chronic diseases and health expenditure by age group. Methods: Based on the Future Elderly Model, this study projects the size of Korean population, the prevalence of chronic diseases, and health expenditure over the 2014-2040 period using two waves (2012, 2013) of the Korea Health Panel and National Health Insurance Service database. Results: First, the prevalence of chronic diseases increases by 2040. The population with hypertension increases 2.04 times; the diabetes increases 2.43 times; and the cancer increases 3.38 times. Second, health expenditure on chronic diseases increases as well. Health expenditure on hypertension increases 4.33 times (1,098,753 million won in 2014 to 4,760,811 million won in 2040); diabetes increases 5.34 times (792,444 million won in 2014 to 4,232,714 million won in 2040); and cancer increases 6.09 times (4,396,223 million won in 2014 to 26,776,724 million won in 2040). Third, men and women who belong to the early middle-aged group (44-55 years old) as of 2014, have the highest increase rate in health spending. Conclusion: Most Korean literature on health expenditure estimation employs a macro-simulation approach and does not fully take into account personal characteristics and behaviors. Thus, this study aims to benefit medical administrators and policy makers to frame effective and targeted health policies by analyzing personal-level data with a microsimulation model and providing health expenditure projections by age group.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.316-329
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• 2023

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: This study investigated the association between dietary quality based on the Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), and the prevalence of chronic conditions among middle-aged individuals (40-60 yrs of age) living alone. MATERIALS/METHODS: The participants were selected (1,517 men and 2,596 women) from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016-2018 and classified into single-person households (SPH) and multi-person households (MPH). Nutrient intake, KHEI, and the prevalence of chronic conditions were compared according to household size. The odds ratios (ORs) of chronic conditions were analyzed according to the tertile levels of KHEI by gender within each household size category. RESULTS: Men in SPH had a significantly lower total KHEI score (P < 0.0001) and a lower prevalence of obesity (OR, 0.576) than those in MPH. For men, the adjusted ORs for obesity, hypertension, and hypertriglyceridemia in the first tertile (T1) of KHEI scores within SPH compared with the third tertile (T3) were 4.625, 3.790, and 4.333, respectively. Moreover, the adjusted OR for hypertriglyceridemia in the T1 group compared to the T3 group within the MPH was 1.556. For women, the adjusted ORs for obesity and hypertriglyceridemia in T1 compared to T3 within the SPH were 3.223 and 7.134, respectively, and 1.573 and 1.373 for obesity and hypertension, respectively, within MPH. CONCLUSIONS: A healthy eating index was associated with a reduced risk of chronic conditions in middle-aged adults. Greater adherence to a healthy eating index could lower the risk of chronic conditions in middle-aged adults living alone.

• Journal of the Korea Society of Computer and Information
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• v.29 no.8
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• pp.123-131
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• 2024

The purpose of this study is to identify the prevalence of diabetes and related factors and thereby to provide fundamental data for the prevention and management of diabetes. This study is a secondary analysis based on the raw data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) for the years 2011 and 2021. Analysis method was frequency analysis, complex samples Chi-square test, complex samples logistic regression analysis. As a result of the study, the factors related to diabetes were sex, age, education level, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and subjective health recognition in 2011(Negelkerke R²=.255), and sex, age, education level, hypertension, dyslipidemia, mother's diabetes, and subjective health recognition in 2021(Negelkerke R²=.327). This study is meaningful in that the factors related to diabetes were identified according to time trend, and the changes in the related factors were confirmed. Development and application of an intervention program to prevent diabetes are necessary.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.8 no.10
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• pp.273-279
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• 2017

Purpose: This study was conducted to identify factors associated with cataract and age-related macular degeneration in elders. Methods: In total, 341,588 men(44.18%,) and women(61.887%), aged over 60, were recruited from Korean National Health Insurance Service-Senior(2002-2013). We also analysed the factors which determine the prevalence of contract (ICD-10: H25) and age-related macular degeneration(ICD-10: H353) using Cox proportional hazard regression model Results: The subjects who were women, in older age, the group of higher income level, with hypertension, with heart disease, and with diabetes, the prevalence of both contract and age-related macular were increased(p<0.0001). Conclusion: The prevalence of contract and age-related macular degeneration were higher in old age of Korean who has chronic diseases such as hypertension, heart disease, and diabetes. The management of chronic diseases are essentially required in elderly for more healthy eye in aged society.

• Journal of the Korea Convergence Society
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• v.9 no.9
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• pp.363-369
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• 2018

The purpose of this study was to perform exercise program for patients with borderline hypertension and hypertension. And the change of the metabolic syndrome index. This study was performed for 15 weeks on borderline hypertension, hypertension patients. 28 subjects participated in the exercise program for 40 minutes, three times a week for 15 weeks. The following conclusions were obtained. First, there was a significant correlation between the prevalence of metabolic syndrome before and after the exercise program. Second, there were significant differences in body weight, muscle mass, fat mass, BMI, waist circumference, diastolic blood pressure, and blood sugar before and after 15 weeks of exercise program. This can lead to improved metabolic syndrome indicators in hypertensive patients with a muscle extension exercise program.

• Nutrition Research and Practice
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• v.9 no.3
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• pp.313-318
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• 2015

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Dietary pattern and its association with cardio-cerebrovascular disease have not been studied in Baoji city by now. This study was aimed to identify the dietary patterns among Chinese adults in Baoji, and explore the association between these dietary patterns and cardio-cerebrovascular disease. SUBJECTS/METHODS: A total of 4,968 participants were included in this study at 12 counties. With multistage stratified random sampling and semi quantitative food frequency questionnaire, the prevalence of cardio-cerebrovascular disease and dietary intake were investigated in 2013. We used factor analysis to establish dietary patterns. RESULTS: A total of 4,968 participants over 15 years old were included in this study. Five dietary patterns were identified in Baoji: protein, balanced, beans, prudent, and traditional patterns. The protein dietary pattern mainly included animal and plant proteins and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The balanced pattern included carbohydrates, protein, and fat and was negatively associated with hypertension as well as stroke. The beans pattern was mainly beans and beans products and was negatively associated with hypertension. The prudent pattern only included staple foods and pickled vegetables and was positively associated with hypertension as well as coronary heart disease. The traditional pattern was representative of local Baoji traditional recipes and was positively associated with hypertension. CONCLUSIONS: The protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns showed many protective effects on cardio-cerebrovascular disease. Based on these results, Baoji city residents should be encouraged to choose protein, balanced, and beans dietary patterns and abandon prudent and traditional patterns to prevent incidence of hypertension, coronary heart disease, and stroke.

• Journal of agricultural medicine and community health
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• v.30 no.1
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• pp.29-38
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• 2005

Objectives: Hypertension is the most important risk factors for the cerebrovascular diseases, and also for coronary heart diseases, it is therefore very important that the people have a knowledge on nature of hypertension and it's high risk in order to prevent and detect the hypertension as early as possible. Methods: This study was done to find out the knowledge on hypertension of 434 parents of elementary school students from Kimjae city, Jonbuk province, they were parents in grade 4, 5 and 6 attending two elementary schools. The survey took 10 days from November 20 to November 30, 2003. Results: first, The highest correct answer(94.5%) was "obesity is risk factors for hypertension", followed by "hypertension is closely related with hereditary factors(91.0%) and "high sodium intake is associated with high blood pressure"(85.7%). The lowest correct answer(77.4%) was the classification of blood pressure level between normal and high. Second, Rate of blood pressure measurement for fathers was 53.7% and 54.8% in mothers. Awareness of own blood pressure by fathers was 84.1 %, while 91.1% by mothers. Third, According to blood pressure level reported by parents, fathers with normal blood pressure was 59.2%, high normal blood pressure was 12.2%, while hypertension was 28.6%. It revealed that prevalence of hypertension of fathers was higher than mother (normal: 74.5%, high normal: 7.7%, hypertension: 18.2%). Conclusions: From the results of this study, it is important to strengthen the health education about hypertension for community people and also school students.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.50 no.2
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• pp.158-170
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• 2017

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to explore the relationship between milk intake and prevalence rates of chronic diseases using KNHANES data, and the significance of the relationship was tested based on meditators, socioeconomic status (income, education), dietary behaviors (smoking, alcohol drinking, breakfast, and eating out), and physical activity (walking, medium, and high). Methods: Using the 5th and 6th survey data of KNHANES, milk intake rates and presence of seven chronic diseases were summarized and analyzed by ANOVA for two groups of adult men and women as follows: hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol, diabetes, abdominal obesity, obesity, and metabolic syndrome. The dependent variables for the presence of seven chronic diseases regressed with socioeconomic, dietary behavior, and physical activity variables according to Logistic models. The dependent variables for milk intake using predictor variables of socioeconomic, dietary behaviors and physical activity were analyzed according to Logistic models. Finally, the significant socioeconomic, dietary behavior, and physical activity variables in the above model along with milk intake as a control variable or mediator variable regressed with significant chronic diseases according to Logistic models. Results: Milk intake, socioeconomic status, dietary behaviors, and physical activity were significantly different among the two groups of adult men and women, which were also critical factors to the prevalence of chronic diseases. The dependent variable for prevalence of chronic diseases regressed with significant factors of socioeconomic status, dietary behavior, and physical activity variables according to chronic diseases using the control or mediator variable of milk intake and summarized as follows: For adult men, milk intake controlled the education effect on diabetes partly, alcohol on hypertension and hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, breakfast on metabolic syndrome, eating out on obesity, and medium physical activity on hypertriglyceridemia. For adult women, household income on hypertriglyceridemia, diabetes, abdominal obesity, education level on hypertension, alcohol drinking, eating out, and walking activity on abdominal obesity, alcohol, breakfast, eating out, walking activity on low HDL-cholesterol, and medium physical activity on hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol were partly controlled by milk intake. Other significant socioeconomic status, dietary behavior, and physical activity variables related to prevalence of chronic diseases were fully controlled or mediated by milk intake. Conclusion: This study shows that milk intake (daily more than 200 g) prevents chronic diseases such as hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, low HDL-cholesterol, diabetes, obesity, abdominal obesity, and metabolic syndrome.