• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.37 no.1
• /
• pp.52-60
• /
• 2004

This study was conducted to investigate the bone mineral density (BMD) and the anthropometric measurements, socioeconomic factors, family history of osteoporosis and other environmental factors affecting BMD in children. One hundred sixty children (80 males, 80 females) in second grade of elementary school in Seoul were recruited; the mean age was 7.7 $\pm$ 0.47 years. Bone mineral density was measured in the lumbar spine (LS), femoral neck (FN), femoral trochanter (FT), and Ward's triangle (WT) by Dual Energy X-ray Absorptiometry (DEXA). Socioeconomic factors, family history of osteoporosis, and other environmental factors were assessed by questionnaire. Bone mineral densities of LS, FN, FT, and WT were 0.677, 0.637, 0.618, and 0.658 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$. BMD of boys was higher than that of girls (LS: 0.685 vs. 0.669, FN: 0.660 vs. 0.614, FT: 0.632 vs. 0.604, WT: 0.678 vs. 0.639 g/$\textrm{cm}^2$). Anthrometric measurements (height, weight relative body weight, circumference of waist and hip) were positively correlated with BMD. With increasing family income, BMD of LS was significantly lowered, and negative correlation was observed between mother's age at birth of subject and the BMD of FN. And the BMD of children with a family history of osteoporosis was significantly lower. However BMDs were not different by educational level of parents, family pattern, delivery term, birth weight, and type of feeding. Further studies are needed to clarify the factors affecting BMD of children and earlier age, included infants and even prenatal life. If any association is revealed and persist until the attainment of peak bone mass, osteoporosis prevention programs are needed to be start very early in the life cycle.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.29 no.3 s.54
• /
• pp.483-494
• /
• 1996

The objectives of this study are to estimate the prevalence of diabetes mellitus (DM) and to identify risk factors associated with fasting blood sugar in a rural adult population. We carried out a cross - sectional study on the residents over 30-year old. Among the 1077 eligible subjects, 725 persons responded to the study;the study consisted of interview on family and past history of DM, anthropometry, blood pressure, and blood sugar level in each subjects. Only 707 subjects of 725 participants had fasting blood sugar(FBS) examined and the rest, 18 subjects were had casual blood sugar examined due to failure of fasting over 8 - hour. When subjects had $FBS\geq140mg/dl$, 2 hours postprandial blood sugar level was checked after 75g oral glucose loading. The prevalence of DM was 8.9%, and age standarized prevalence rate adjusted to Korean population of 1995 was 5.8%. Mean and SD of fasting blood sugar in men was $99.8{\pm}22.6$, and in women was $111.5{\pm}29.9$. Mean levels of fasting blood sugar were significantly higher in women than in man and as their ages advanced the prevalences increased in both sexes. PP2 blood sugar levels were significantly higher in elder age and in persons with higher FBS levels than others. The risk factors associated with FBS were past history of diabetes, sex, socioeconomic status and waist - to - hip circumference ratio;the risk of diabetes was increased in female, people with past DM history, central obesity and low socioeconomic state. The low socioeconomic status associated with DM in this study, which is different from other study results, should be pursued in further studies.

• Anxiety and mood
• /
• v.9 no.1
• /
• pp.54-60
• /
• 2013

Objectives : Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is classified as an anxiety disorder. PTSD occurrence is known to be increased in middle-aged and older people, female, and individuals with a previous history of psychiatric disorders, lower education levels, low socioeconomic status, and severely injured patients. Anxiety symptoms are also related to later development of PTSD. In this study, we investigate the influences of injury severity and sociodemographic factors on severe anxiety in PTSD patients with no previous history of psychiatric disorders. Methods : Forty-one PTSD patients without previous history of psychiatric disorders were recruited from the psychiatric clinic at Chosun University Hospital. Subjects underwent psychiatric and physical examinations including the Injury Severity Score (ISS), Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI), and Korean-Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (K-WAIS). We defined severe anxiety as a BAI scores of 30 or more. Logistic regression analyses and multi-step model selection were applied to identify predictive factors for severe anxiety. Results : In univariate analysis, age, ISS, and socioeconomic status were found to be significant factors. Through multivariate logistic regression analyses and a stepwise model selection, we found the combination of age and ISS to be the best-fitted model for affecting severe anxiety in PTSD patients without a previous history of psychiatric disorders. Conclusion : Our findings suggest that the combination of age and ISS could develop severe anxiety in PTSD patients with no previous history of psychiatric disorders.

• Journal of Korean Public Health Nursing
• /
• v.22 no.1
• /
• pp.27-38
• /
• 2008

Purpose: To determine the degree of cardiovascular disease risk according to socioeconomic factors among midlife women in the community and thereby provide baseline data for the development of health promotion programs. Method: A total of 200 women participated in health screenings and a health survey. The survey was performed in November and December, 2006. The survey instruments included socioeconomic factors, health behavior (smoking and exercise), and family history. Biophysical measurement included BMI and blood pressure. Blood samples were drawn for glucose and total cholesterol tests. Results: The mean age was 52.5 years, 34.0% had received education less than 6 years, 70.0% earned a monthly income of less than \1,500,000, and 61.5% were homemakers. Cardiovascular disease risk was significantly different by age (BMI, systolic BP, and exercise), education (systolic BP), monthly income (T. cholesterol), marital status (smoking), and occupation (exercise). Most women had 2 or 3 cardiovascular disease risks. Older age, lower education, and lower income were significantly associated with increased cardiovascular disease risk. Conclusion: Efforts should be made to decrease the number and severity of cardiovascular disease risk factors for midlife women in the community by developing health promotion programs targeting to modify their cardiovascular disease risk factors.

• Environmental Analysis Health and Toxicology
• /
• v.26
• /
• pp.11.1-11.6
• /
• 2011

Objects: The prevalence of asthma has increased in recent decades globally. The objective of the present study is to elucidate whether hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status interact for bronchial hyperreactivity during teenage years. Method: We studied 522 children age 13-14 years attending schools in rural and urban areas to investigate the risk factors for bronchial hyperreactivity (BHR), defined as a provocation concentration of methacholine that causes a decrease of 20% ($PC_{20}$) in forced expiratory volume within 1 second. Clinical examination, skin prick test, spirometry, and methacholine challenge were performed on all study subjects, who provided written consent. We used multivariate logistic regression to investigate the risk factors for BHR, and analyze the interaction between hospitalization for bronchiolitis in infancy and low socioeconomic status. Results: Forty-six (10.3%) positive BHR cases were identified. In the multivariate logistic analysis, as independent predictors of BHR, adjusted odds ratio of bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age in low income families was 13.7 (95% confidence interval, 1.4 to 135.0), compared to reference group, controlling for age, gender, parental allergy history, skin prick test, and environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) exposure. Interaction was observed between bronchiolitis before 2 years old and low socioeconomic status on children's bronchial hyperreactivity (p-interaction=0.025). Conclusions: This study showed that bronchiolitis diagnosed before 2 years of age and low socioeconomic status interacted on children's bronchial hyperreactivity. Prevention of acute respiratory infection in early childhood in low socioeconomic status is important to prevent BHR as a precursor of asthma.

• Journal of Nutrition and Health
• /
• v.20 no.4
• /
• pp.272-280
• /
• 1987

This research is intended to reveal the correlations between diabetes and dietary and other related factors. We were studied for 257 diabetics, in t도 9 general hospitals, located at Seoul, From August 109 to September 3, 1986. The result of this study can be follow ; 1) Distribution of the subjects according to their general characteristics ; The sex ration of the subjects is 1.06 ; 1.00 (male ; female), and the average age is 54.7 $\pm$10.9 years. Among the subjects 28.8% have a family history of diabetes ; the closer the genetic relationship, the more hereditory factors play a part. 2) Distribution of the scores according to their socioeconomic status ; As the socioeconomic status goes p, the intake of calories and fiber increases ; however, the frequency of eating out and the degree of physical activity decrease. 3) Relationship between obesity prevalence and each variable ; Among the subjects 27.2% are obese, and 60.3% have been obese in the past. Even though there is no significant relationship between the food habit and obesity, the number of people who are obese shows a significant increase as the socioeconomic status improves. 4) The effect of sex on each variable ; The intake of calories, sugar, alcohol and coffee is higher in male subjects, as is the frequency of eating out. In regular exercise and physical activity, there are significant differences between male and female subjects.

• Journal of Korean Medicine Rehabilitation
• /
• v.24 no.4
• /
• pp.137-143
• /
• 2014

Objectives Low back pain causes disability and incurs large socioeconomic burden. Many cases of acute low back pain progress into chronic conditions. As the treatment period extends, burden of socioeconomic expenses also rises. Thus this study is to investigate whether history period influences improvement rate of pain and disability in the patients who receive conservative Korean medicine treatment. Methods 447 inpatients who received conservative Korean Medicine treatment for the management of low back pain have been grouped into acute, sub-acute and chronic according to the length of history period. NRS, ODI and improvement rate of each group were investigated. Treatment every patient has received as follow; acupuncture, herbal medicine, Chuna manipulation, bee venom, and physical treatment. Results Acute patients showed improvement with NRS of $3.98{\pm}2.50$ and ODI of $28.04{\pm}21.54$. The NRS of sub-acute patients showed improvement with NRS of $2.81{\pm}2.07$, ODI also showed improvement with $11.64{\pm}13.94$. Statistically significant difference was observed in NRS, ODI and improvement for acute patients. Improvement in pain and disability was observed to be larger. Conclusions It demonstrated that receiving valid conservative Korean medicine treatment is beneficial for low back pain patients in improvement of their pain and disability.

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
• /
• v.50 no.4
• /
• pp.240-250
• /
• 2017

Objectives: Subjective life expectancy (SLE) has been found to show a significant association with mortality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the major factors affecting SLE. We also examined whether any differences existed between SLE and actuarial life expectancy (LE) in Korea. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 1000 individuals in Korea aged 20-59 was conducted. Participants were asked about SLE via a self-reported questionnaire. LE from the National Health Insurance database in Korea was used to evaluate differences between SLE and actuarial LE. Age-adjusted least-squares means, correlations, and regression analyses were used to test the relationship of SLE with four categories of predictors: demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors. Results: Among the 1000 participants, women (mean SLE, 83.43 years; 95% confidence interval, 82.41 to 84.46 years; 48% of the total sample) had an expected LE 1.59 years longer than that of men. The socioeconomic factors of household income and housing arrangements were related to SLE. Among the health behaviors, smoking status, alcohol status, and physical activity were associated with SLE. Among the psychosocial factors, stress, self-rated health, and social connectedness were related to SLE. SLE had a positive correlation with actuarial estimates (r=0.61, p<0.001). Gender, household income, history of smoking, and distress were related to the presence of a gap between SLE and actuarial LE. Conclusions: Demographic factors, socioeconomic factors, health behaviors, and psychosocial factors showed significant associations with SLE, in the expected directions. Further studies are needed to determine the reasons for these results.

• Korean journal of communication and information
• /
• v.77
• /
• pp.200-254
• /
• 2016

This paper deals with historical changes in the market of Korean newsprint paper since 1945. Particularly, this paper does not examine only the structure of supply and demand in the newsprint paper market, but also general dynamics of the market from a perspective of Harold Innis's socioeconomic history. As a result, this paper concludes that the general dynamics of Korean newsprint paper market has persistently responded to a stimulus from external markets due to a scarcity of natural resources. To more concretely put it, until 1967 when the newsprint paper market was opened, Korean government had tried to control both newspaper industries and paper manufacture businesses by the matters of price and distribution of the newsprint paper. But since the market was opened, a general dynamics of the Korean newsprint paper market has been vulnerable to uncoordinated properties of external markets. Consequently, even though 'self-sufficiency' of newsprint papers was achieved in 1974, the price of newsprint papers has been often rising and falling.

• Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention
• /
• v.14 no.5
• /
• pp.2777-2782
• /
• 2013

The aim of the present study was to assess criterion validity and external reliability of a questionnaire on risk factors for breast cancer. Materials and Methods. Women with breast cancer diagnosis (the cases) (N=40) and matched individuals without cancer (the controls) (N=40) were asked to fill in a questionnaire twice: on a day of admission to hospital (Q1) and on a day before discharge (Q2), with a time interval of 4-6 days. The questionnaire included questions (N=150) on demographic and socioeconomic factors, diseases in the past, family history of cancer, woman's health, smoking, alcohol use, diet, physical activity, and work environment. Criterion validity of the questionnaire Q2 relative to reference questionnaire Q1 was assessed with the Spearman correlation coefficient (SCC); external reliability of the questionnaire was measured in terms of the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC). Statistical analysis was performed with SPSS 16. Results. The responses to most of the questions on socioeconomic factors, family history on cancer, female health, lifestyle risk factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity) correlated substantially in both the cases and the controls with SCC and ICC>0.7 (p<0.01). Statistically non significant relationships defined only between the responses on amount of beer the cases drank at the ages up to 25 years and 26-35 years as well as time of use of estrogen and estrogens-progestin during menopause by the cases. Moderate and substantial SCC and ICC were determined for different food items. Only the response of the cases on veal consumption did not correlate significantly. Conclusions. The questionnaire on breast cancer risk factors is valid and reliable for most of the questions included.