Elderly adults are the demographic most likely to utilize emergency medical services (EMS). This study aimed to examine the difference in EMS utilization in subgroups of the elderly population by assessing the predictors for using EMS.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify differences in drinking norms, heavy drinking, and motives between types of drinkers (abstainers, solitary, and social drinkers) in a representative sample of Korean adults. Methods: An online survey of people registered on the electoral roll were randomly invited to be part of the “National Korean Drinking Culture Study” conducted in 2018 (n = 3,015). Participants included 1,532 men and 1,469 women aged 19-60 years. Questions included the number of times they drank in the last month, what they drank, and the volume drank. The amount of pure alcohol consumed was calculated.Drinking norms, motives, and types were determined in the survey questions. Results: Solitary drinkers were more likely to be divorced or separated, less educated, and marginally employed. Solitary drinking peaked in those in their 30s (18.5%) and social drinkers in their 50s (68.1%).Solitary drinkers drank more frequently compared with social drinkers (6.1 vs. 3.6 times per month, p < 0.001), and consumed a significantly larger quantity of alcohol (69.5 g vs. 46.8 g per week). Solitary drinkers were more accepting of drinking-related behaviors in diverse situations compared with social drinkers. The regression analysis revealed that personal drinking motives were the most important factor influencing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption in both solitary and social drinking. Conclusion Solitary drinkers may be more vulnerable to alcohol abuse than social drinkers.

Objectives: This study aimed to identify differences in drinking norms, heavy drinking, and motives between types of drinkers (abstainers, solitary, and social drinkers) in a representative sample of Korean adults. Methods: An online survey of people registered on the electoral roll were randomly invited to be part of the “National Korean Drinking Culture Study” conducted in 2018 (n = 3,015). Participants included 1,532 men and 1,469 women aged 19-60 years. Questions included the number of times they drank in the last month, what they drank, and the volume drank. The amount of pure alcohol consumed was calculated.Drinking norms, motives, and types were determined in the survey questions. Results: Solitary drinkers were more likely to be divorced or separated, less educated, and marginally employed. Solitary drinking peaked in those in their 30s (18.5%) and social drinkers in their 50s (68.1%).Solitary drinkers drank more frequently compared with social drinkers (6.1 vs. 3.6 times per month, p < 0.001), and consumed a significantly larger quantity of alcohol (69.5 g vs. 46.8 g per week). Solitary drinkers were more accepting of drinking-related behaviors in diverse situations compared with social drinkers. The regression analysis revealed that personal drinking motives were the most important factor influencing the frequency and quantity of alcohol consumption in both solitary and social drinking. Conclusion Solitary drinkers may be more vulnerable to alcohol abuse than social drinkers.

Objectives: This study investigated the relationship between living arrangements and metabolic syndrome (MetS) risk in the adult population in the Republic of Korea. Methods: The samples were derived from the data collected during the second year of the seventh Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. The study targeted a total of 6,265 adults who were aged 20 years and above, and multiple logistic regression analysis was conducted. Living arrangements were classified into 4 categories: single-person households, 1-generation households, 2-generation households, and other family types. MetS was identified by the presence of at least 3 out of the 5 National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Results: For men, the odds ratio (ORs) for MetS in 1- and 2-generation households, comparedto single-person households, were 0.92 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.55–1.54) and 0.97 (95% CI, 0.58–1.62), respectively. The OR for other types of households was 0.96 (95% CI, 0.79–1.17). For women, the OR for MetS in 1- and 2-generation households, compared to single-person households, were 1.52 (95% CI, 1.15–2.01) and 1.29 (95% CI, 1.01–1.67), respectively. Conclusion Our study suggests that a national strategy involving tailored interventions for women living in high-risk conditions is necessary to reduce the risk of MetS in Korean women.