• Korean Journal of Community Nutrition
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• v.26 no.5
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• pp.363-381
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• 2021

Objectives: This study examined the Korean elderly's dietary intake status, subjective health-related perception and chronic disease prevalence among age groups. Associations of dietary quality with subjective health-related perception and chronic diseases were also examined. Methods: Based on data from the 7th National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a total of 3,231 elderly were selected and categorized into 4 age groups of '65 ~ 69', '70 ~ 74', '75 ~ 79' and 'over 80'. Nutrient intakes, proportions of those with insufficient nutrient intakes, Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI), some subjective health-related perceptions and prevalence of major chronic diseases were compared according to the age groups. Differences in the subjective health-related perceptions and odds ratios of the chronic diseases according to the quartile levels of KHEI within the same age group were analyzed. Results: With the increase of age, several nutrient intakes (P < 0.001) and KHEI scores significantly decreased (P < 0.01). In women, activity restriction increased (P < 0.05), and EQ-5D score decreased with age (P < 0.001). Prevalence of hypertension (P < 0.0001), hypercholesterolemia (P < 0.05) and anemia (P < 0.01) significantly increased, while hypertriglyceridemia (P < 0.01) significantly decreased only in men. Obesity prevalence decreased, while underweight prevalence increased (P < 0.05). Subjective health status, EQ-5D score and PHQ-9 score significantly improved as KHEI score increased in certain age groups of women (P < 0.05). Odds ratio of hypercholesterolemia significantly increased with the increase of KHEI score in 65 ~ 69-year-old women. However, hypertension and anemia significantly decreased with the increase of KHEI score in 75 ~ 79-year-old women (P < 0.05). Conclusions: The study findings suggest that nutrition management and policy for the Korean elderly need to apply a segmented age standard that can better reflect their dynamic characteristics.

• Health Policy and Management
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• v.31 no.1
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• pp.65-73
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• 2021

Background: With the recent aging of the population, the transition to a disease structure centered on chronic diseases is accelerating. Moreover, the socio-economic gap and the polarization of the health gap between regions further increase the burden of disease on the country. Accordingly, this study calculated the disease cost of hypertension, diabetes, and hyperlipidemia, which are the three major chronic diseases, to establish an effective health promotion policy strategy for each region, and analyzed the gap in disease cost within the region to determine health determinants at the individual as well as the regional level. Methods: This study utilized data from the 2015 sample cohort of the National Health Insurance Service and calculated the disease cost of patients (diabetes: I10-I15, hypertension: E10-E14, hyperlipidemia: E78) based on the main diagnosis. Results: Based on our analysis, the case of medical use in cities and provinces was higher than in metropolitan cities, with relatively small medical use in Seoul and Gangwon-do. In terms of the disease cost, the cost of chronic diseases in Seoul and Jeju was the highest, but the difference in disease cost between patients in each region was the largest in Seoul and Gangwon-do. Conclusion: The results of this study provide meaningful data for implementing efficient health promotion policies by analyzing the differences in disease cost and identifying health determinants in different regions. Furthermore, in Korea, where socioeconomic differences are clearly revealed, it can be used as a basis for preparing a strategic plan, from a long-term perspective, to improve the health of patients with chronic diseases in the future.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.77 no.4
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• pp.155-160
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• 2014

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is characterized by a diverse array of pulmonary and nonpulmonary manifestations, but our understanding of COPD pathogenesis and the factors that influence its heterogeneity in disease presentation is poor. Despite this heterogeneity, treatment algorithms are primarily driven by a single measurement, forced expiratory volume in 1 second ($FEV_1$) as a percentage of its predicted value ($FEV_1%$). In 2011, a major shift in Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) treatment recommendations was proposed that stratifies patients with COPD on the basis of symptoms and exacerbation history. This article reviews the work reported in 2013 that enlightens our understanding of COPD with respect to COPD classification systems, phenotype, biomarker, exacerbation, and management for patients with COPD.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.4
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• pp.207-213
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• 2016

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) encompasses several clinical syndromes, most notably emphysema and chronic bronchitis. Most of the current treatments fail to attenuate severity and progression of the disease, thereby requiring better mechanistic understandings of pathogenesis to develop disease-modifying therapeutics. A number of theories on COPD pathogenesis have been promulgated wherein an increase in protease burden from chronic inflammation, exaggerated production of reactive oxygen species and the resulting oxidant injury, or superfluous cell death responses caused by enhanced cellular injury/damage were proposed as the culprit. These hypotheses are not mutually exclusive and together likely represent the multifaceted biological processes involved in COPD pathogenesis. Recent studies demonstrate that mitochondria are involved in innate immune signaling that plays important roles in cigarette smoke-induced inflammasome activation, pulmonary inflammation and tissue remodeling responses. These responses are reviewed herein and synthesized into a view of COPD pathogenesis whereby mitochondria play a central role.

• Korean Journal of Health Education and Promotion
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• v.32 no.1
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• pp.33-44
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• 2015

Objectives: This study examined the effects of optimism and repressive coping on psychopathological symptoms and health management behavior in college students with chronic physical diseases. Methods: We conducted a survey on optimism, repressive coping, psychopathological symptoms, and health management behavior to patients with a chronic physical disease. Results: The results showed that both of optimism and repressive coping were related to fewer psychopathological symptoms. In addition, the repressive coping were related to fewer risk taking behaviors. Conclusion: Based on the results of this study, it is possible that how to well protect their psychological physical health to patients with a chronic physical disease.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.31 no.4
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• pp.395-401
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• 2023

Innate immunity is a first line defence system in the body which is for sensing signals of danger such as pathogenic microbes or host-derived signals of cellular stress. Pattern recognition receptors (PRR's), which present in the cell memebrane, are suspect the infection through pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP), and activate innate immunity with response to promote inflammation via inflammatory cells such as macrophages and neutrophils, and cytokines. Inflammasome are protein complexes which are part of innate immunity in inflammation to remove pathogens and repair damaged tissues. What is the important role of inflammation in disease? In this review, we are focused on the action mechanism of NLRP3 inflammasome in inflammatory diseases such as asthma, atopic dermatitis, and sepsis.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.60 no.2
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• pp.215-220
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• 2006

Background : A spirometric reference equation was recently developed for the general population in Korea. The applicability of the new Korean equation to clinical practice was examined by comparing it with the Morris equation, which is one of the most popular reference equations used for interpreting the spirometric patterns and for grading the disease severity in Korea. Methods : Spirometry was performed on 926 men and 694 women, aged 20 years or older, in November 2004 at the Asan Medical Center, Seoul, Korea. The subjects' age, gender, height, weight, and spirometric values ($FEV_1$ [forced expiratory volume in one second], FVC [forced vital capacity], and $FEV_1/FVC$) were obtained. The spirometric patterns and disease severity were evaluated using both equations, and the results of the Korean equation were compared with the Morris equation. The spirometric patterns were defined as normal, restrictive, obstructive, and undetermined according to the level of $FEV_1/FVC$ and FVC. The disease severity was defined according to the level of $FEV_1$ level for subjects with an airflow limitation, and according to the FVC level for those subjects without an airflow limitation. Results : Spirometric patterns were differently interpreted in 22.5% (208/926) of the men and 24.8% (172/694) of the women after the application of the Korean equation compared with the Morris equation. Of the subjects with airflow limitation, disease severity was differently graded in 30.2% (114/378) of the men and 39.4% (37/94) of the women after the application of the Korean equation. Of the subjects without airflow limitation, disease severity was differently graded in 27.9% (153/548) of the men and 30.2% (181/600) of the women after the application of the Korean equation. Conclusion : Achange in the reference equation for spirometry could have an effect on the interpretation of spirometric patterns and on the grading of disease severity.

• Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases
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• v.79 no.3
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• pp.193-193
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• 2016

• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.43 no.3
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• pp.279-282
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• 2010

Objectives: This study investigates whether Korean news media pay more attention to emerging diseases than chronic ones, and whether they closely follow the changes in the magnitude of health risks of chronic or well-known diseases. These two features are expected to appear as the result of surveillance function served by health journalism that should be the main source of the public's risk perception. Methods: The number of stories published in 10 newspapers containing the words, 'SARS,' 'Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy,' 'Avian Influenza,' and 'Influenza A virus' was compared with the number of stories on chronic or wellknown diseases. We also counted the annual number of stories, published in a 12-year period, containing following terms: 'cancer,' 'diabetes,' 'hypertension,' 'pneumonia,' and 'tuberculosis.' The number was compared with the actual mortality of each disease. Results: Although cancer represented the primary cause of mortality, the newspapers covered key emerging diseases more than cancer or other well-known diseases. Also, media coverage of 'pneumonia' and 'tuberculosis' did not vary in accordance with changes in the mortality of each disease. However, the news media coverage did vary in accordance with the mortality of 'cancer,' 'diabetes,' and 'hypertension.' Conclusions: Korean health journalism was found to have both strong and weak points. The news media reduced the relative level of attention given to pneumonia and tuberculosis. Bearing in mind the major influence of news coverage on risk perception, health professionals need to be more proactive about helping to improve Korean health journalism.

• 한국노년학
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• v.37 no.3
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• pp.783-801
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• 2017

The purpose of this study is to examined the relationship between social support, self-rated health status and life satisfaction among elderlies with chronic disease. For this study, 228 respondents suffered from chronic diseases and 75 healthy elderlies aged over 65 were analyzed. For the data analysis, a structural equation analysis and multi-group analysis were performed. As a result, higher levels of social support for elderlies with chronic diseases showed a higher level of life satisfaction, and the self-rated health status was found to be a significant mediator. The social support of the elderlies with chronic diseases significantly impacted their self-rated health status differently on healthy elderlies. To improve the self-rated health status and life satisfaction of elderlies with chronic disease, social services should be offered with social support providers. This study is meaningful in suggesting selective implications for elderlies with chronic disease.