• Title/Summary/Keyword: multivariable

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Impact of Asymmetric Middle Cerebral Artery Velocity on Functional Recovery in Patients with Transient Ischemic Attack or Acute Ischemic Stroke (일과성허혈발작 및 급성뇌경색환자에서 경두개도플러로 측정된 중간대뇌동맥 비대칭 지수가 환자 예후에 미치는 영향)

  • Han, Minho;Nam, Hyo Suk
    • Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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    • v.50 no.2
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    • pp.126-135
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    • 2018
  • This study examined whether the difference in the middle cerebral artery (MCA) velocities can predict the prognosis of stroke and whether the prognostic impact differs among stroke subtypes. Transient ischemic attack (TIA) or acute ischemic stroke patients, who underwent a routine evaluation and transcranial Doppler (TCD), were included in this study. The MCA asymmetry index was calculated using the relative percentage difference in the mean flow velocity (MFV) between the left and right MCA: (|RMCA MFV-LMCA MFV|/mean MCA MFV)${\times}100$. The stroke subtypes were determined using the TOAST classification. Poor functional outcomes were defined as a mRS score ${\geq}3$ at 3 months after the onset of stroke. A total of 988 patients were included, of whom 157 (15.9%) had a poor functional outcome. Multivariable analysis showed that only the MCA asymmetry index was independently associated with a poor functional outcome. ROC curve analysis showed that adding the MCA asymmetry index to the prediction model improved the discrimination of a poor functional outcome from acute ischemic stroke (from 88.6% [95% CI, 85.2~91.9] to 89.2% [95% CI, 85.9~92.5]). The MCA asymmetry index has an independent prognostic value for predicting a poor short-term functional outcome after an acute cerebral infarction. Therefore, TCD may be useful for predicting a poor functional outcome in patients with acute ischemic stroke.

Patterns of Cancer-Related Risk Behaviors Among Construction Workers in Hong Kong: A Latent Class Analysis Approach

  • Xia, Nan;Lam, Wendy;Tin, Pamela;Yoon, Sungwon;Zhang, Na;Zhang, Weiwei;Ma, Ke;Fielding, Richard
    • Safety and Health at Work
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    • v.11 no.1
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    • pp.26-32
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    • 2020
  • Background: Hong Kong's construction industry currently faces a manpower crisis. Blue-collar workers are a disadvantaged group and suffer higher levels of chronic diseases, for example, cancer, than the wider population. Cancer risk factors are likely to cluster together. We documented prevalence of cancer-associated lifestyle risk behaviors and their correlates among Hong Kong construction workers. Methods: Data were collected from workers at 37 railway-related construction worksites throughout Hong Kong during May 2014. Tobacco use, alcohol consumption, unbalanced nutrition intake, and physical inactivity were included in the analysis. Latent class analysis and multivariable logistic regression were performed to identify the patterns of risk behaviors related to cancer, as well as their impact factors among construction workers in Hong Kong. Results: Overall, 1,443 workers participated. Latent class analysis identified four different behavioral classes in the sample. Fully adjusted multiple logistic regression identified age, gender, years of Hong Kong residency, ethnicity, educational level, and living status differentiated behavioral classes. Conclusion: High levels of lifestyle-related cancer-risk behaviors were found in most of the Hong Kong construction workers studied. The present study contributes to understanding how cancer-related lifestyle risk behaviors cluster among construction workers and relative impact factors of risk behaviors. It is essential to tailor health behavior interventions focused on multiple risk behaviors among different groups for further enlarging the effects on cancer prevention.

The Association between Number of Present Teeth and Oral Function in Korean Adults Aged 55~84 Years (55~84세 한국 성인의 현존치아수와 구강기능의 관계)

  • Kim, Han-Na;Kim, Ki-Rim;Kim, Jin-Bom
    • Journal of dental hygiene science
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    • v.15 no.3
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    • pp.340-347
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    • 2015
  • The purpose of this study is to analyze the factors of oral function associated with number of present teeth (NT) in Korean elderly adults. The research was designed as cross-sectional study using the data of the 4th Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey, and the samples were selected by stratified clusters sampling. The subjects aged 55 to 84 years were 4,780 that joined the oral examination survey and questionnaires. The respective variables reflecting socioeconomic status, subjective health status and oral function factor were analyzed and their distributional differences were confirmed by complex sampling logistic regression analysis. Multivariable liner regression models considering covariates were applied to explain the associations between the number of present teeth and other variables. Gender, educated level, illegal dental treatment, self-rated oral health and oral functional factors, including chewing behavior and speaking behavior, were associated with the number of present teeth (p<0.05). Subjects with better self-rated oral health had more NT than those with worse. Subjects with worse speaking behaviors had less NT than those with better. Interventions aiming to enhance oral health in elderly adults should consider socioeconomic, demographic, and oral functional factors.

Prognostic Factor Analysis of Overall Survival in Gastric Cancer from Two Phase III Studies of Second-line Ramucirumab (REGARD and RAINBOW) Using Pooled Patient Data

  • Fuchs, Charles S.;Muro, Kei;Tomasek, Jiri;Van Cutsem, Eric;Cho, Jae Yong;Oh, Sang-Cheul;Safran, Howard;Bodoky, Gyorgy;Chau, Ian;Shimada, Yasuhiro;Al-Batran, Salah-Eddin;Passalacqua, Rodolfo;Ohtsu, Atsushi;Emig, Michael;Ferry, David;Chandrawansa, Kumari;Hsu, Yanzhi;Sashegyi, Andreas;Liepa, Astra M.;Wilke, Hansjochen
    • Journal of Gastric Cancer
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    • v.17 no.2
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    • pp.132-144
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    • 2017
  • Purpose: To identify baseline prognostic factors for survival in patients with disease progression, during or after chemotherapy for the treatment of advanced gastric or gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) cancer. Materials and Methods: We pooled data from patients randomized between 2009 and 2012 in 2 phase III, global double-blind studies of ramucirumab for the treatment of advanced gastric or GEJ adenocarcinoma following disease progression on first-line platinum- and/or fluoropyrimidine-containing therapy (REGARD and RAINBOW). Forty-one key baseline clinical and laboratory factors common in both studies were examined. Model building started with covariate screening using univariate Cox models (significance level=0.05). A stepwise multivariable Cox model identified the final prognostic factors (entry+exit significance level=0.01). Cox models were stratified by treatment and geographic region. The process was repeated to identify baseline prognostic quality of life (QoL) parameters. Results: Of 1,020 randomized patients, 953 (93%) patients without any missing covariates were included in the analysis. We identified 12 independent prognostic factors of poor survival: 1) peritoneal metastases; 2) Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) performance score 1; 3) the presence of a primary tumor; 4) time to progression since prior therapy <6 months; 5) poor/unknown tumor differentiation; abnormally low blood levels of 6) albumin, 7) sodium, and/or 8) lymphocytes; and abnormally high blood levels of 9) neutrophils, 10) aspartate aminotransferase (AST), 11) alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and/or 12) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH). Factors were used to devise a 4-tier prognostic index (median overall survival [OS] by risk [months]: high=3.4, moderate=6.4, medium=9.9, and low=14.5; Harrell's C-index=0.66; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.64-0.68). Addition of QoL to the model identified patient-reported appetite loss as an independent prognostic factor. Conclusions: The identified prognostic factors and the reported prognostic index may help clinical decision-making, patient stratification, and planning of future clinical studies.

Clinical Features of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease with High Fractional Exhaled Nitric Oxide

  • Ahn, Seong;Kim, Tae-Ok;Chang, Jinsun;Shin, Hong-Joon;Kwon, Yong-Soo;Lim, Sung-Chul;Kim, Yu-Il
    • Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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    • v.83 no.3
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    • pp.234-241
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    • 2020
  • Background: The fractional exhaled nitric oxide (FENO) test is useful in asthma patients. However, a few studies on its usefulness in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients have been reported. We analyzed the FENO level distribution and clinical characteristics according to the FENO level in COPD patients. Methods: From December 2014 to June 2019, COPD patients who underwent pulmonary function and FENO tests at Chonnam National University Hospital were retrospectively evaluated for FENO, comorbidities, asthma history, blood eosinophil, and pulmonary function test. The high FENO group was defined as those with FENO level>25 parts per billion (ppb). Results: A total of 849 COPD patients (mean age, 70.3±9.4 years) were included. The mean forced expiratory volume at 1 second was 66.5±21.7% and the mean FENO level was 24.3±20.5 ppb. Patients with FENO ≤25 ppb were 572 (67.4%) and those with FENO >25 ppb were 277 (32.6%). Blood eosinophil percentage was significantly higher (4.2±4.8 vs. 2.7±2.5, p<0.001) in patients with the high FENO group than the low FENO group. The high FENO group revealed a significantly higher frequency of patients with blood eosinophil percentage >3% (46.9% vs. 34.8%, p=0.001) and asthma history (25.6% vs. 8.6%, p<0.001) than the lower FENO group. Asthma history, blood eosinophil percentage >3%, and positive bronchodilator response (BDR) were independent risk factors for the high FENO level (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 3.85; p<0.001; aOR, 1.46; p=0.017; and aOR, 1.57, p=0.034, respectively) in the multivariable analysis. Conclusion: The FENO level distribution varied in COPD patients and the mean FENO value was slightly elevated. Asthma history, eosinophil percent, and positive BDR were independent risk factors for the high FENO level.

Awareness, Treatment, and Control Rates of Hypertension and Related Factors of Awareness among Middle Aged Adult and Elderly in Chuncheon : Hallym Aging Study(HAS) (춘천지역 중년과 노인의 고혈압 인지율, 치료율, 조절률 및 인지율 관련 요인: 한림노년연구(HAS))

  • Jeong, Jin-Young;Choi, Yong-Jun;Jang, Soong-Nang;Hong, Kyung-Soon;Choi, Young-Ho;Choi, Moon-Ki;Kim, Dong-Hyun
    • Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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    • v.40 no.4
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    • pp.305-312
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    • 2007
  • Objectives : To estimate the awareness, treatment and control rate, as well as to identify the awareness-related factors for hypertension. Methods : The study participants were 482 adults (men 206, women 276), aged 45 or over, diagnosed with hypertension and living in Chuncheon. The awareness rate was defined as the proportion of persons among those with hypertension who had previously been diagnosed by a physician. The treatment rate was defined as the proportion of persons who had used anti-hypertensive medication, among those who were aware of their hypertension. The control rate was defined as the proportion of persons who kept blood pressure normal, among those who had been treated for their hypertension. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was carried out for the awareness-related factors using SAS VER 8.1. Results : The awareness, treatment, and control rate were 55,8% (53.4% for men; 57.6% for women), 89.6% (87,2% for men; 91.2% for women), and 34.4% (28.1 % for men; 38.6% for women), respectively. The awareness-related factors included a family history of hypertension (odds ratio[OR], 5.63; 95% confidence interval[95% CI]=1.53-20.72), smoking([Ex; OR 0.38, 95% CI= 0.15-0.96)], [Current; OR 0.28, 95% CI=0.10-0.80]), and alcohol intake ([Ex; OR 3.22, 95% CI 1.03-10.09],[Current; OR 3.36, 95% CI=1.30-8.71]) for men, and education(OR 2.23, 95% CI=1.10-4.53), body mass index(OR 2.72, 95% CI=1.13-6.53), and self-rated health(OR 2.38, 95% CI=1.07-5.30) for women. Conclusions : The awareness rate of hypertension among the middle aged and elderly in Chuncheon was 55.8%. The related factors of awareness were gender specific. Further studies are needed to elucidate the putative reasons for these gender differences.

Risk Factors for Allergic Diseases in School-Aged Children (알레르기 질환을 가진 초등학교 고학년의 식생활·환경적 요인 및 성장과의 관련성 분석)

  • Min, Seonae;Cho, Mijin;Park, Kyong
    • Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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    • v.42 no.9
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    • pp.1387-1394
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    • 2013
  • Allergies are one of the most common chronic diseases during childhood. While the prevalence of allergic disease in children is increasing dramatically, few studies have evaluated the risk and preventive factors related to this health condition, especially in South Korea. The purpose of this case-control study was to evaluate independent determinants of allergic disease, and to examine whether it is associated with growth and other health conditions in childhood. The current study included 209 cases and 311 age and sex-matched controls (fifth and sixth graders) residing in Daegu, South Korea. Environmental data was collected, including child and family histories of allergies, birth information, and reaction to weaning foods during infancy. In addition, current dietary habits (assessed by 2 day-24 hr food records), health conditions, and anthropometric data were obtained through questionnaires and student health check-ups at the school. Based on chi-square tests, cases had a significantly higher prevalence of having a disease at birth, an allergic reaction to weaning foods, frequent hospital visits, and frequent experiences of the common cold and digestive diseases. In addition, significantly more mothers had a higher education in the cases compared to controls. Based on multivariable conditional logistic regression analysis, factors significantly associated with greater odds for having allergies were parental (OR=21.42) and fraternal (OR=14.40) histories of allergies. The anthropometric measures showed that cases tended to be shorter in height and lighter in weight than the controls, but these differences were not statistically significant. These findings may indicate that current nutrient intakes may not be the only critical factor associated with delayed growth delay in the allergic group. A well-planned, large cohort study is warranted to confirm our findings in the future.

An association between diet quality index for Koreans (DQI-K) and total mortality in Health Examinees Gem (HEXA-G) study

  • Lim, Jiyeon;Lee, Yunhee;Shin, Sangah;Lee, Hwi-Won;Kim, Claire E;Lee, Jong-koo;Lee, Sang-Ah;Kang, Daehee
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.12 no.3
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    • pp.258-264
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    • 2018
  • BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Diet quality scores or indices, based on dietary guidelines, are used to summarize dietary intake into a single numeric variable. The aim of this study was to examine the association between the modified diet quality index for Koreans (DQI-K) and mortality among Health Examinees-Gem (HEXA-G) study participants. SUBJECTS/METHODS: The DQI-K was modified from the original diet quality index. A total of 134,547 participants (45,207 men and 89,340 women) from the HEXA-G study (2004 and 2013) were included. The DQI-K is based on eight components: 1) daily protein intake, 2) percent of energy from fat, 3) percent of energy from saturated fat, 4) daily cholesterol intake, 5) daily whole-grain intake, 6) daily fruit intake, 7) daily vegetable intake, and 8) daily sodium intake. The association between all-cause mortality and the DQI-K was examined using Cox proportional hazard regression models. Hazard ratios and confidence intervals were estimated after adjusting for age, gender, income, smoking status, alcohol drinking, body mass index, and total energy intake. RESULTS: The total DQI-K score was calculated by summing the scores of the eight components (range 0-9). In the multivariable adjusted models, with good diet quality (score 0-4) as a reference, poor diet quality (score 5-9) was associated with an increased risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratios = 1.23, 95% confidence intervals = 1.06-1.43). Moreover, a one-unit increase in DQI-K score resulted in a 6% higher mortality risk. CONCLUSIONS: A poor diet quality DQI-K score was associated with an increased risk of mortality. The DQI-K in the present study may be used to assess the diet quality of Korean adults.

Associations of serum levels of vitamins A, C, and E with the risk of cognitive impairment among elderly Koreans

  • Kim, Sung Hee;Park, Yeong Mi;Choi, Bo Youl;Kim, Mi Kyung;Roh, Sungwon;Kim, Kyunga;Yang, Yoon Jung
    • Nutrition Research and Practice
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    • v.12 no.2
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    • pp.160-165
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    • 2018
  • BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: Korea is quickly becoming an aged society. Dementia is also becoming a vital public health problem in Korea. Cognitive impairment as a pre-stage of dementia shares most risk factors for dementia. The aim of the present study was to determine associations of serum levels of vitamins A, C, and E with the risk of cognitive impairment among elderly Koreans. SUBJECTS/METHODS: In this cross-sectional study, a total of 230 participants aged 60-79 years from Yangpyeong cohort were included. Cognitive function was assessed by the Korean version of the Mini-Mental State Examination for Dementia Screening. The logistic multivariable regression model was applied to determine the effect of serum vitamins A, C, and E on the risk of cognitive impairment. RESULTS: There was no significant association between the risk of cognitive impairment and serum levels of vitamin A and vitamin C. There was a significant odd ratio when the second tertile group of beta-gamma tocopherol level was compared to the first tertile group [odds ratio (OR) = 0.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.14-0.98, P for trend = 0.051]. In subgroup analyses, there were significant negative associations between beta-gamma tocopherol level and the risk of cognitive impairment in men (OR = 0.17, 95% CI = 0.03-0.87, P for trend = 0.028), non-drinkers or former drinkers (OR = 0.13, 95% CI = 0.02-0.66, P for trend = 0.025), and non-smokers or former smokers (OR = 0.27, 95% CI = 0.09-0.82, P for trend = 0.017). CONCLUSION: Serum beta-gamma tocopherol levels tended to be inversely associated with the risk of cognitive impairment. Further prospective large-scaled studies are needed to examine this association.

Outcomes of Open Surgical Repair of Descending Thoracic Aortic Disease

  • Lee, Won-Young;Yoo, Jae Suk;Kim, Joon Bum;Jung, Sung-Ho;Choo, Suk Jung;Chung, Cheol Hyun;Lee, Jae Won
    • Journal of Chest Surgery
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    • v.47 no.3
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    • pp.255-261
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    • 2014
  • Background: To determine the predictors of clinical outcomes following surgical descending thoracic aortic (DTA) repair. Methods: We identified 103 patients (23 females; mean age, $64.1{\pm}12.3$ years) who underwent DTA replacement from 1999 to 2011 using either deep hypothermic circulatory arrest (44%) or partial cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB, 56%). Results: The early mortality rate was 4.9% (n=5). Early major complications occurred in 21 patients (20.3%), which included newly required hemodialysis (9.7%), low cardiac output syndrome (6.8%), pneumonia (7.8%), stroke (6.8%), and multi-organ failure (3.9%). None experienced paraplegia. During a median follow-up of 56.3 months (inter-quartile range, 23.1 to 85.1 months), there were 17 late deaths and one aortic reoperation. Overall survival at 5 and 10 years was $80.9%{\pm}4.3%$ and $71.7%{\pm}5.9%$, respectively. Reoperation-free survival at 5 and 10 years was $77.3%{\pm}4.8%$ and $70.2%{\pm}5.8%$. Multivariable analysis revealed that age (hazard ratio [HR], 1.10; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.05 to 1.15; p<0.001) and left ventricle (LV) function (HR, 0.88; 95% CI, 0.82 to 0.96; p<0.003) were significant and independent predictors of long-term mortality. CPB strategy, however, was not significantly related to mortality (p=0.49). Conclusion: Surgical DTA repair was practicable in terms of acceptable perioperative mortality/morbidity as well as favorable long-term survival. Age and LV function were risk factors for long-term mortality, irrespective of the CPB strategy.