• Health Policy and Management
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• v.27 no.1
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• pp.75-79
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• 2017

Suicide is becoming a public health issue in many countries, and even more so in Korea. Korea has the highest suicide rate in the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development countries. To address these issues, we investigated the recent trends in suicidal ideation and suicide attempts among the adult population. We used data from four sources: Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES, '2007-2012, '2013, '2015), Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, '2008-2009, '2013), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, '2012-2015), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, '2010-2013). Weighted frequencies and trend tests were used. The rate of suicidal ideation as recent year was 5.10% (KNHANES, '2015), 8.95% (KCHS, '2013), 2.34% (KOWEPS, '2015), or 5.39% (KHP, '2013). Regarding the suicide attempts, the rate of suicide attempts as recent year was 0.61% (KNHANES, '2015), 0.41% (KCHS, '2013), or 0.04% (KOWEPS, '2015). Average percent change of suicidal ideation during survey year was -2.80% (KNHANES, '2007-2012), 5.78% (KNHANES, '2013-2015), 0.62% (KCHS, '2008-2013), -5.63% (KOWEPS, '2012-2015), and -10.94% (KHP, '2010-2013). Average percent change of suicide attempts during survey year was -3.84% (KNHANES, '2007-2012), 4.55% (KNHANES, '2013-2015), -2.54% (KCHS, '2008-2013), and -18.96% (KOWEPS, '2012-2015). Those who had lower income level were more likely to have self-reported suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. Our results suggest that further efforts are needed for more effective intervention to identify and manage low income strata with suicide problem.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.228-236
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• 2022

The aim of this study was updating suicide-related indicators, including the number of suicidal deaths, suicide rate, and the prevalence of suicidal ideation and suicide attempts. We observed trends in suicide-related indicators based on up-to-date information. This study used five data sources to evaluate the trends of suicide-related indicators: Statistics Korea (1983-2020), Korean Wealth Panel Study (KOWEPS, 2012-2020), and Korea Health Panel Survey (KHP, 2010-2013, 2016-2018), Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015-2020), and Korean Community Health Survey (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). The suicide rate per 100,000 population decrease from 26.9 in 2019 to 25.7 in 2020. Based on recently available data, the rates of suicidal ideation were 1.48% (KOWEPS, 2020), 2.61% (KHP, 2018), 4.62% (KNHANES, 2019), and 6.96% (KCHS, 2017). Those of suicide attempt as were 0.07% (KOWEPS, 2020), 0.44% (KNHANES, 2020), and 0.32% (KCHS, 2017). Annual percentage change (APC) of suicide rate was -1.87% (Statistics Korea, 2011-2020). APC of suicidal ideation was -10.7% (KOWEPS, 2012-2020), -11.5% (KHP, 2010-2013, 2016-2018), -14.7% (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015, 2017, 2019), and -2.5% (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). APC of suicide attempt was -11.3% (KOWEPS, 2012-2019), -5.2% (KNHANES, 2007-2013, 2015-2020), and -4.4% (KCHS, 2008-2009, 2013, 2017). Although the suicide rate in Korea has decreased compared to 10 years ago, it is still at a high level. Thus, continuous observation and appropriate suicide prevention policies are needed.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.29 no.3
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• pp.23-34
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aims to compare the contents of physical activity questions of Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey(KNHANES), and to propose suggestions for improvement. Methods: Questions measuring physical activity prevalence of adults in the KNHANES from KNHANES I(1998) to the first year of KNHANES V(2010) were compared. Results: The questions used in each survey showed some problems in consistency and appropriateness. Major issues identified are as follows. First, the questions in each survey were not consistent, and would be inappropriate to make time series comparisons. Second, the purpose of physical activity was not clear. Third, the examples of physical activities suggested in the questions were not appropriate. Fourth, the intensity of physical activity were not adequately described. Fifth, by excluding walking from the moderate-intensity physical activity category, the prevalence of moderate-intensity physical activity could be underestimated. Sixth, it is difficult to measure the total amount of physical activity performed in one day because answers from the other domains cannot be clearly differentiated. Conclusions: The physical activity questions in the KNHANES questionnaire should be improved so that they are consistent with the purpose of survey, the respondents can easily understand the contents of the questions, and the questions can measure all physical activity performed in the different domains.

• The Korean Journal of Food And Nutrition
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.745-752
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• 2013

The purpose of this study was to define a portion size for dishes frequently consumed by Korean adults especially focusing on main dishes like rice, noodles, soups, and stews. From the original 8,019 people who took part in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010, we analyzed the data for 4,556 persons aged 19 to 64 years and selected dish items consumed based on an intake frequency of 30 or more by all participants. The portion size of each dish item was set on the basis of the median amount ($50^{th}$ percentile) in a single intake by a single person. In the rice category, 15 items were selected, of which the most frequently consumed item was steamed rice with a portion size of 250ml. Among noodles and dumplings, the most frequently consumed dish was ramyeon with a portion size of 500ml. As for soups, the portion size was $250m{\ell}$ for kongnamul guk and $300m{\ell}$ for miyeoguk. In stews, the most frequently consumed items were kimchi jjigae followed by doenjang jjigae with a portion size of $200m{\ell}$ and $125m{\ell}$, respectively. In a comparison of portion sizes between the KNHANES 2010 and KNHANES 2005, the portion size of some noodles, soups, and stews tended to decrease from 2005 to 2010. Portion sizes established in this study for dish items consumed regularly by adults may be conveniently and effectively used in dietary planning, in nutritional education programs, and in assessing the dietary intake status of Korean adults.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.99-109
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• 2014

The purpose of this study was to estimate the prevalence of osteoarthritis as well as assess the risk factors associated with osteoarthritis in Koreans over 65 years using data from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V), 2010~2012. Of the participants from KNHANES V, a total of 3,479 subjects were analyzed using SPSS statistics complex samples (Windows ver. 21.0). Osteoarthritis was more frequently found in female (32.5%) or rural (26.8%) groups than male (9.3%) or urban (20.3%) groups. Mean age of the osteoarthritis group was significantly higher than that of the normal group. Mean values of BMI and waist circumference were significantly higher in the osteoarthritis group than in the normal group, whereas height, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol, triglyceride, hemoglobin, and hematocrit levels were not. Health-related quality of life (EQ-5D) was significantly higher in the normal group than in the osteoarthritis group. The results of multiple logistic regression showed that obesity and vitamin A/riboflavin intakes were significantly related to the prevalence of osteoarthritis, whereas smoking, alcohol intake, physical activity, hypertension, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, anemia, and diabetes were not. This study suggests that obesity and nutrient intakes were associated with osteoarthritis, whereas chronic diseases such as hyper-lipidemia, anemia, and diabetes as well as health habits were not. Prospective research of long-term control is needed to establish the effects of those factors on the osteoarthritis.

• Clinical and Experimental Pediatrics
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• v.53 no.10
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• pp.892-897
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• 2010

Purpose: This study evaluated the prevalence of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) and risk factors for metabolic derangement in young adults with childhood-onset hypopituitary growth hormone deficiency (ACOHGHD). Methods: Thirty patients with ACOHGHD who were treated with hormone-replacement therapy, aged 18 to 29 years, who visited the Seoul National University Children's Hospital between September 2009 and February 2010 were enrolled. Height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, and blood pressure were measured, and the clinical and hormonal features were reviewed retrospectively. We evaluated measures of metabolic derangement in the enrolled patients and in the data of healthy adults aged 20 to 29 years taken from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) as part of the National Cholesterol Education Program-the Adult Treatment Panel III. Results: Compared with the KNHANES participants, patients with ACOHGHD had significantly large waist circumference (men and women), high systolic blood pressure (BP) (women) and diastolic BP (men), and high serum triglyceride levels (women). The duration of illness correlated significantly with central obesity ($r^2$=0.546, $P$=0.003). The prevalence of MetS was 10% in patients with ACOHGHD and 2.3% in KNHANES participants. The prevalence of central obesity and MetS was higher in patients with ACOHGHD than in KNHANES participants ($P$<0.001 and $P$=0.042, respectively). Conclusion: Abdominal obesity correlated with the duration of illness in patients with ACOHGHD. Waist circumference should be measured in the clinic to prevent MetS, particularly in patients with a long history of ACOHGHD, regardless of age or sex.

• The Journal of the Korea Contents Association
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• v.15 no.7
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• pp.264-281
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• 2015

Suicidal ideation has received much attention from both practitioners and researchers as Korean society becomes aging and individualistic. However, previous researches on the suicide ideation have focused on young generations instead of adults who seem to be more suffered from economic pressure and all kinds of exterior environments causing depression. Besides, there were research voids in the suicidal ideation area where depression was never taken into consideration. In this sense, we attempted to launch empirical studies on analyzing explanatory factors relevant to suicidal ideation in all the age groups by using KNHANES dataset from 2008~2012 years. Especially, we further analyzed KNHANES dataset to know how much depression affects suicidal ideation. Empirical results showed that depression is in a significant relationship with the suicidal ideation in all the demographic dimensions such as age, education, living area, etc.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
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• v.32 no.2
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• pp.275-287
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• 2018

Purpose: This study examined the trends of socio-demographic and health factors affecting the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in Korean elderly. Methods: Data were obtained from the Fourth, Fifth and Sixth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V-1, 2007, KNHANES V-1, 2010, KNHANES V-2, 2014). The sample consisted of 3,668 Korean individuals aged 65 years and older. The data were analyzed using a t-test, Chi-square test and multiple linear regression using the SPSS/WIN 20.0 program. Results: The HRQoL is improving consistently and the affecting factors on the HRQoL were the education level, activity limitation, subjective health and walking days per week in the three data of 2007, 2010, and 2014. Conclusion: A health care program focusing on improving activity limitation and physical activity should be considered for the improvement of HRQoL for the elderly in the community.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
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• v.46 no.6
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• pp.540-551
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• 2013

Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is becoming an epidemic and thereby a global health problem. Further, VDD adversely affects calcium metabolism and skeletal health, and is associated with increased risk of several diseases, e.g., autoimmune diseases, several types of cancers, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, infectious diseases, asthma, psoriatic arthritis, and etc. To evaluate the prevalence of VDD in Korea, and then to evaluate the association of several factors with serum 25(OH)D level, the author analyzed the data of 14,456 individuals who were 10 years of age and over from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1 & 2 (KNHANES V-1 & 2) conducted by the Korean Centers for Disease Control & Prevention. As a result, among Koreans (age $${\geq_-}$$ 10years), 65.9% of males and 77.7% of females were below optimum blood serum 25(OH)D (20 ng/mL). VDD is more severe in female than in male at all age groups. In addition, the younger generations had less 25(OH)D level than older generations in Korea. The analysis by complex sample general linear model (CSGLM) suggested that blood 25(OH)D concentration was related with gender (p < .001), residence (p = .030), occupation (p < .001), anemia (p < .001) and physical activity (p < .001). In conclusion, VDD is pandemic and it is more severe in younger generations in Korea. Further, from the results by CSGLM, serum 25(OH)D status is closely related with the life style of Koreans.

• Journal of the Korean Dietetic Association
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• v.20 no.2
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• pp.110-122
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• 2014

This study investigated factors affecting the bone mineral density (BMD) of Korean young adult women (20~30 yrs) living in Seoul, according to the state of employment. Data on BMD and anthropometric and biochemical measurements were obtained from the Fifth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V) (2010~2011). BMD of the working group (WG) was generally higher than that of the non-working group (NWG). The prevalence of osteopenia, and osteoporosis between the groups was 29.0/31.5%, and 12.9/18.5% from 20~29 yrs as well as 25.5/24.1%, and 20.2/20.5% from 30~39 yrs, respectively. From 20~29 yrs, prevalence of osteopenia and osteoporosis in the WG was lower than that of the NWG. Alkaline phosphatase activity of the WG was lower than that of the NWG. In the WG, from 20~29 yrs, total femur BMD showed significant positive correlations with waist circumstance and BMI. In the NWG, from 20~29 yrs, total femur, femoral neck, and lumbar spine BMDs showed significant positive correlations with weight and fat mass, whereas they showed significant negative correlations with vitamin D. In the WG, from 30~39 yrs, total femur and femoral neck BMDs showed significant positive correlations with weight and free fat mass. The results of this study show that BMD of young adult women is insufficient regardless of their employment status. Therefore, practical and systematic programs are required to improve the BMD of young adult women as well as to maintain healthy bone levels.