Low Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Prevalent among North Korean Refugees in South Korea.
10.4082/kjfm.2018.39.3.161
- Author:
Young Soo SONG
1
;
Seong Woo CHOI
Author Information
1. Department of Health Science, Graduate School of Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
North Korean Refugees;
Glomerular Filtration Rate;
Chronic Renal Insufficiency
- MeSH:
Cardiovascular Diseases;
Case-Control Studies;
Glomerular Filtration Rate*;
Humans;
Kidney;
Korea*;
Nutrition Surveys;
Prevalence;
Refugees*;
Renal Insufficiency;
Renal Insufficiency, Chronic;
Risk Factors;
United Nations;
Weight Gain
- From:Korean Journal of Family Medicine
2018;39(3):161-167
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: The number of North Korean refugees entering South Korea is rising. Few studies have investigated the risk of non-communicable disease in North Korean refugees. Moreover, kidney insufficiency, a risk factor for cardiovascular disease, has not been studied in this population. We compared the prevalence of non-communicable disease and kidney function in North Korean refugees and South Koreans. METHODS: Our study was conducted using a case-control design. We enrolled 118 North Korean refugees from the Hana Center and selected 472 randomly sampled South Korean individuals as controls, who were age- and sex-matched with the North Korean refugees in a ratio of 1:4, from the 2014 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey database. RESULTS: The prevalence of non-communicable disease did not differ significantly between the groups; however, a low estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR; < 90 mL/min per 1.73 m2) was more prevalent in the North Korean refugees than in the South Korean population (52.1% vs. 29.9%, P < 0.001). After adjusting for covariates and weight gain after escape, the prevalence of a low eGFR was associated with the length of residence in South Korea (odds ratio, 2.84; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–7.89). CONCLUSION: The prevalence of non-communicable disease did not differ between North Korean refugees and the South Korean population, while a low eGFR was more prevalent in North Korean refugees than in South Koreans. Moreover, after adjusting for other covariates, the prevalence of a low eGFR in North Korean refugees was associated with the length of residence in South Korea.
