• Journal of Environmental Health Sciences
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.735-749
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• 2020

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate airborne pollen counts, inhalant allergen sensitization rate, and allergic disease prevalence among elementary school children in Ulsan, South Korea during 2012-2018. Methods: Burkard samplers for pollen were installed on rooftops in suburban and urban areas in Ulsan. A 24-hour sampling of airborne allergens was conducted six days/week from January 1, 2013 to November 31, 2018. Skin prick tests were done with a total of 4,246 primary school students residing in urban and suburban areas in 2012, 2014, 2016, and 2018. This study examined sensitization to 20 major inhalant allergens. Results: The highest monthly counts of airborne pollen were observed in April and September each year. Among the pollen identified over the six years, pine showed the highest pollen counts (44.3%), followed by oak (22.3%), alder (6.3%) and Japanese hops (4.3%). Tree pollen predominated from March to June, and weed pollen predominated from August to October. Higher sensitization rates for inhalant allergens were observed in Dermatophagoides farinae (42.4%), Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus (43.6%), cat fur (12.1%), birch (9.9%), oak (9.6%), and alder (8.7%). The inhalant allergen sensitization rate was highest in the group with comorbidity (asthma and/or rhinitis and atopic dermatitis), and respiratory allergic disease (asthma and/or rhinitis) was higher than that of atopic dermatitis. Conclusion: Both the counts of tree pollen in the air and the sensitization rate for tree pollen were high in Ulsan. The temporal change in respiratory allergic diseases was similar to that for the sensitization rate of tree pollen, such as oak. In the future, it is considered that additional continuous research on various inhalant allergens and pollen should be conducted.

• Journal of the Korea Academia-Industrial cooperation Society
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.169-180
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• 2021

This study was undertaken to determine the degree of quality of life, and factors influencing osteoarthritis in hypertensive elderly 65 years or older patients, using data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Survey 2018. Totally, 843 subjects were included from a national sample. The SPSS WIN 26.0 program was used to analyze complex samples by applying the Rao-Scott chi-square test, t-test, and multiple regression analysis. Results indicate that quality of life of the hypertensive group with osteoarthritis is significantly lower than the group with only hypertension (t=5.07, p<0.001). Factors affecting the decrease in quality of life of the hypertensive group were age, subjective health status, and activity restrictions, and the explanatory power was 46.1% (F=12.33, p<0.001). In the hypertensive group with osteoarthritis, the effective factors included gender, cohabitation status, economic activity, subjective health status, activity restriction, body mass index, sleep time, stress perception, and depression, and the explanatory power was 44.6% (F=99.82, p<0.001). Subsequent studies showed that in order to improve the quality of life of hypertensive seniors, intervention programs are required to actively accommodate health conditions and minimize activity restrictions. In addition, for the elderly with osteoarthritis and hypertension, it is necessary to include exercise and nutrition education for body mass index management, and the development and intervention of multidisciplinary participation programs to strengthen mental health.

• Journal of Convergence for Information Technology
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• v.11 no.3
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• pp.54-67
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• 2021

This study is a secondary data study that analyzes the factors affecting the quality of life of the elderly with metabolic syndrome and the elderly with metabolic syndrome with osteoporosis using data from the 7th year of the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2018). The subjects of this study were 639 patients with metabolic syndrome and 161 patients with metabolic syndrome with osteoporosis. For data analysis, the composite sample Rao-Scott χ2 test, general linear model t-test, and regression model were used. As a result of the study, the factors that lowered the quality of life of metabolic syndrome were age, cohabitation, strength training, subjective health status, activity restriction, body mass index and depression, and the explanatory power was 50.4% (F=515.96, p<.001). In metabolic syndrome with osteoporosis, age, subjective health status, activity restriction, and stress were the factors that lowered the quality of life, and the explanatory power was 48.6% (F=10.42, p<.001). Based on these results, it is necessary to develop and provide an intensive multidisciplinary program for the elderly with metabolic syndrome accompanied by osteoporosis to solve the problem of activity restrictions and manage stress reduction through positive acceptance of health status, instrumental and social support, and caring support.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.21 no.4
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• pp.487-497
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• 2021

The purpose of this study is to identify factors affecting length of stay(LOS) and death in tuberculosis(TB) patients by disease type, patient characteristic, admission and disease characteristic, and hospital characteristic from 2008 to 2017. Survey data was using Korean national hospital discharge in-depth survey data produced by Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency. Study subjects were 10,634 inpatients with TB(A15, A16, A17, A18, A19, U88.0, U88.1, U84.30, U84.31) and analyzed frequency, chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and logistic regression by using STATA 13.0. As a study result, the type of TB(extrapulmonary TB, multidrug-resistant TB, extensively drug-resistant TB), sex(woman), age(35-49, 50-64, 65-74, 75 years old or older), admission type(outpatient department), CCI(1-2 point, 3 point over), hospital location(metropolitan city) and bed size(300-499, 500-999, over 1000) were significantly influence LOS. Also, the type of TB(extrapulmonary TB, extensively drug-resistant TB), sex(woman), age(50-64, 65-74, 75 years old or older), residence(small town/rural), admission type(outpatient department), CCI(1-2 point, 3 point over), hospital location(provincial) were significantly influence death. In conclusion, the existing tuberculosis management has been patient management with rapid diagnosis and treatment following early detection. But other studies should be carried out for the system that identifies and supports high-risk groups of the long-term length of stay in hospital or high mortality rates as a result of treatment.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.85 no.1
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• pp.74-79
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• 2022

Background: The effect of underlying chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) on coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) during a pandemic is controversial. The purpose of this study was to examine the prognosis of COVID-19 according to the underlying COPD. Methods: COVID-19 patients were assessed using nationwide health insurance data. Comorbidities were evaluated using the modified Charlson Comorbidity Index (mCCI) which excluded COPD from conventional CCI scores. Baseline characteristics were assessed. Univariable and multiple logistic and linear regression analyses were performed to determine effects of variables on clinical outcomes. Ages, sex, mCCI, socioeconomic status, and underlying COPD were selected as variables. Results: COPD patients showed older age (71.3±11.6 years vs. 47.7±19.1 years, p<0.001), higher mCCI (2.6±1.9 vs. 0.8±1.3, p<0.001), and higher mortality (22.9% vs. 3.2%, p<0.001) than non-COPD patients. The intensive care unit admission rate and hospital length of stay were not significantly different between the two groups. All variables were associated with mortality in univariate analysis. However, underlying COPD was not associated with mortality unlike other variables in the adjusted analysis. Older age (odds ratio [OR], 1.12; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.11-1.14; p<0.001), male sex (OR, 2.29; 95% CI, 1.67-3.12; p<0.001), higher mCCI (OR, 1.30; 95% CI, 1.20-1.41; p<0.001), and medical aid insurance (OR, 1.55; 95% CI, 1.03-2.32; p=0.035) were associated with mortality. Conclusion: Underlying COPD is not associated with a poor prognosis of COVID-19.

• Journal of Industrial Convergence
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• v.20 no.8
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• pp.85-96
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• 2022

The aim of this retrospective study was to compare risk factors between men and women through secondary data of nursing information and medical records according to the severity classification in patients of 340 men and 221 women with coronary artery disease(CAD) who were admitted for the first time at a general hospital and underwent first coronary artery angiography. Consequently, men presented with risk factors such as age(p=.004), total cholesterol(p=.040), triglycerides(p=.049), HbA1c(p<.001), smoking(p<.001), alcohol consumption(p=.002) and comorbidities(p=.036) that showed statistically significant differences. Among women, age(p=.002) and comorbidities (p=.018) were the only factors that showed significant differences. Significant risk factors influencing the classification of CAD severity in men were total cholesterol (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.96-1.00, p=.014) in 1VD, alcohol consumption (OR 52.47, 95% CI 2.99-91.95, p=.007)in 2VD, and total cholesterol in the 3VD(OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.95-0.98, p=.026). A significant risk factor affecting the classification of CAD severity in women was comorbidity (OR 0.30, 95% CI 0.11-0.82, p=.020) in the 3VD. This study identified the importance of nursing care for male CAD patients, such as smoking cessation and quitting drinking, blood sugar control, cholesterol, and accompanying disease management, and provided evidence of individually tailored nursing care.

• Journal of the Korean Applied Science and Technology
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• v.40 no.3
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• pp.392-401
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• 2023

This study was to identify the association between osteoporosis knowledge and performance of osteoporosis preventive behaviors among low-income middle-aged women, and to determine the impact of these variables on osteoporosis preventive behaviors. The subjects were 317 middle-aged women from low-income who visited three general hospitals in P city, and data were collected from February 1, 2021 to December 30, 2022 using structured questionnaires. The collected data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, t-test, ANOVA, Pearson's correlation, and Stepwise multiple linear regression using SPSS/WIN 27.0 program. As a result of the study, the osteoporosis knowledge of the subjects was low at 11.97±6.89 points, which showed a difference in the case of osteoporosis prevention education, fracture experience. The osteoporosis prevention behavior was low at 41.03±7.63 points, which showed a difference according to religion, comorbidity, osteoporosis prevention education and fracture experience, and subjective health status. There was a statistically positive correlation between osteoporosis knowledge and osteoporosis prevention behavior(r=.527, p<.001), and the factors affecting osteoporosis prevention behavior were fracture experience(𝛽=.415, p<.001), osteoporosis prevention education(𝛽=.359, p<.001), and self-rated health(𝛽=.186, p<.001). Therefore, it is necessary to develop a program that can promote osteoporosis prevention behavior of middle-aged women in low-income and to prepare measures to encourage participation.

• Asia-pacific Journal of Multimedia Services Convergent with Art, Humanities, and Sociology
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• v.7 no.11
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• pp.525-536
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• 2017

Purpose: The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing ICU (intensive care units) length of stay of adult patients with critical illness. Methods: This study was adopted descriptive design. 270 patients who were admitted to ICU in general hospital, Seoul were analyzed. Results: A total of 270 patients, 116 (43%) patients had stayed more than 5 days. The length of stay of intensive care unit was significant positive correlation with the FCI(Functional Comobidity Index) score(r=0.33, p<.001) and APACHE(Aacute Physiology and Chronic Health Evlauaion) II(r=0.19, p=.001). In multiple logistic regression, the predictors of ICU length of stay were admission route (p=0.013), FCI score (p<0.001), APACHE II(p=0.012). Conclusions: Heatlh care providers in ICU should be aware that patients who admit to emergency departments and have higher disease severity are more considered to reduce their ICU length of stays.

• 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.

• Korean Journal of Psychosomatic Medicine
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• v.31 no.2
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• pp.142-148
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• 2023

Objectives : The purpose of this study is to investigate the relationships between premonitory urge, tic severity, and comorbidities in children and adolescents with chronic tic disorders. Methods : In this study, scales for tic symptoms, premonitory urge, obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and ADHD symptoms were repeatedly measured twice in 26 children and adolescents aged 10 to 18 years with chronic tic disorders. Correlations between scales were confirmed through repeated measures correlation analysis, and causal relationships between scales were confirmed through regression analysis using a linear mixed model. Results : The degree of premonitory urges showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of tic symptoms, the severity of obsessive-compulsive symptoms, and the severity of ADHD symptoms. The ADHD symptoms showed a significant positive correlation with the severity of tic symptoms. These results were the same even in children and adolescents with tic disorders who were not diagnosed with obsessive-compulsive disorder. Additionally, premonitory urges were found to have a significant positive effect on the severity of tic symptoms. Conclusions : These results may be helpful in treating tic disorders and can be used in future tic disorder research considering developmental trajectory.