As the result of a significant improvement in the economic situation and development of scientific techniques in Korea during the last 20 years, the life expectancy of Korea people has lengthened considerably and as a result the number of old aged people has markedly increased. Such an increase of the number of aged people brought about many problems. Authors would like to take a medical look at the “Problem of old aged people” presently facing us in Korea. Currently the number of people over 65 has increased rapidly and is 1,620,000, 4% of total population. But it is still much lower than 8.9% in Japan, 10.7% in U.S.A., and 14.9% in the United Kingdom. Over 25% of these aged people were found to have at least more than one disease which requires medical care. Diseases occur in the circulatory system, 30.9%, respiratory system, 17.1%, digestive system 8.6%, metal disorders, 8.4%, malignant neoplasms, 7.0%. About 51% of the aged over 65 are under medical security benefit, mostly with partial coverage plan. Their clinic visit rate was very low (2.0% in 1981), which might be due to financial reasons. Since diseases affecting the aged progress chronically, early detection and long term care are utter most important. However there is almost no special facility, long term care center or geriatric specialist. For proper management of medical problems in the growing population of the Korea elderly expansion of medical security coverage, greater number of specialized facilities, education of geriatric special manpower and efficient operating system should be established.
Aged ; Ambulatory Care ; Digestive System ; Education ; Great Britain ; Humans ; Japan ; Korea ; Life Expectancy ; Long-Term Care ; Respiratory System ; Specialization

To estimate the prevalence of hypertension among the aged in urban area, the blood pressure was examined on the subjects of 565 men and 762 women of 65 years old and older among the residents of Nam-Ku and Soosung-Ku in Taegu between January and December, 1986. The mean systolic blood pressure was 136.0±25.01 mmHg in male and 133.0±24.56 mmHg in female. The mean diastolic blood pressure was 83.7±14.41 mmHg in male and 82.4±14.43mmHg in female. There was no significant differences between male and female in both mean systolic and diastolic blood pressure. According to WHO category, the prevalence of pure systolic hypertension (≥169/≤95 mmHg) was 7.8% in male and 6.8% in female. The prevalence of pure diastolic hypertension (≥160/≤95 mmHg) was 6.0% in male and 3.9% in female. The prevalence of both systolic and diastolic hypertension (≥160/≤95 mmHg) was 13.5% in male and 12.9% in female. According to Joint National Committee category, the percentage of normal blood pressure (/<90 mmHg) was 46.7% in male and 50.8% in female. The prevalence of mild hypertension (/90=104 mmHg) was 34.5% in male and 34.6% in female. The prevalence of moderate hypertension (/105=114 mmHg) was 5.1% in male and 2.5% in female. The prevalence of severe hypertension (/≥115 mmHg) was 2.3% in male and 2.5% in female. The prevalence of borderline isolated systolic hypertension (140-159/<90 mmHg) was 9.0% in male and 6.6% in female. The prevalence of isolated systolic hypertension (≥160/<90 mmHg) was 2.3% in male and 2.5% in female.
Blood Pressure ; Daegu ; Female ; Humans ; Hypertension* ; Joints ; Male ; Prevalence*

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of lead on the incidence of anemia and to find cases with lead poisoning early among female workers who have been exposed to lead occupationally, for one year from August, 1985. The level of blood lead and hemoglobin concentration were observed for 284 female lead workers and 123 female non-lead workers of industries in the Gumi industrial complex in Kyungpook Province. The average age was 20.3±2.9 years and 21.1±3.5 years in lead workers and non-lead workers, respectively. The average working duration was 26.46±19.26 months in lead workers. The mean value of blood lead was 30.11±6.61 µg/100 ml and 21.86±3.75 µg/100 ml in lead workers and non-lead workers, respectively. There were significant differences between two groups. The mean value of hemoglobin concentration was 14.00±0.57 g/100 ml and 14.03±0.64 g/100 ml in lead workers and non-lead workers, respectively. Anemia cases were not observed at Hb concentration below 12g/100 ml. The percentages of lead workers at Hb concentration ranged 12.0~13.0 g/100 ml were 4.5%. There was no dose-response relationship between blood lead level and the incidence of anemia. There were no remarkable differences between age and blood lead level as well as Hb concentration, and between working duration and the level of blood lead and hemoglobin.
Anemia ; Female* ; Gyeongsangbuk-do ; Humans ; Incidence ; Lead Poisoning ; Occupational Exposure* ; Occupations

No abstract available.

The drinking water in apartment is stored in reservoir tank and thereafter supplied each household. In case the drinking water in stored too long or insanitary, tap water might change in quality. This study was carried out to evaluate the physic-chemical and microbiological conditions of 36 samples of tap water of apartments compared to 18 samples of tap water of independence houses in Taegu City from May to October, 1987. Main findings are summarized as follows: PH values were within normal range in all samples. Samples less than 0.2ppm in residual chlorine accounted for 16.7% in the apartment and 5.6% in the independence house. Nitrite nitrogen was detected 2.8% of apartment samples only. Among the total of 54 samples, 11.1% of the apartment and independence samples were over the normal value in standard plate count. Samples more than 1.8 of most probable number (MPN) accounted for 27.8% in the apartment and 33.3% in the independence house. In result of test for residual chlorine, nitrite nitrogen, standard plate count, and MPN, the proportion of the samples revealed inappropriate in respect of drinking water standards. In case of all sorts of tests was 2.7% in apartment and nothing in independence houses, in case of 3 sorts of tests was 2.7% in apartment and 5.6% in independence houses, in case of 2 sorts of tests was 8.3% in apartment and 5.6% in independence houses, and in case of only 1 test was 25.0% in apartment and 22.2% in independence houses. Correlation between residual chorine and standard plate count, and between standard plate count and MPN were observed. It was found that the more years since construction of apartment were, the worse tap water was in quality.
Chlorine ; Daegu* ; Drinking Water ; Family Characteristics ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Nitrogen ; Reference Values ; Water*

OBJECTIVES: Several studies have shown that performance related musculoskeletal disorders present a significant and common health problem for instrument players. This study was conducted to investigate the symptom prevalence rate of performance-related musculoskeletal disorders and risk factors on symphony orchestra players. METHODS: The symptom prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders and related factors including demographic factors, occupational factors, psychosocial factors, practice and performance-related behaviors of on 156 symphony orchestra players in Taegu city were surveyed with a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: Instrument players have performed for 14. 6 years in average and worked 4. 9 for years in average as a member of symphony orchestra. The subjects consisted of 106 string players, 48 wind players, and 8 percussion players. The symptom prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders according to the NIOSH surveillance criteria was 79. 6 % and operational criteria by authors was 45. 9 %. The prevalence rate of viola players was higher than violin players, and the prevalence rate of the bass players was higher than that of the cello players. In univariate analysis, job insecurity, irregular performance, stress from family problems, and performance related psychosomatic strains had a significant association with the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders. In multiple logistic regression, job insecurity, irregular performance, and stress from family problems were significant variables affecting the prevalence rate of musculoskeletal disorders of instrument players. CONCLUSIONS: This study suggest that symphony orchestra players are high risk group of musculoskeletal disorders. Irregular performance schedule and psychosocial stress including job insecurity, and psychosomatic strain were important risk factors of players musculoskeletal disorders. An exercise program such as stretching before and after performance, regular performance schedule and reduction of psychosocial stress might be helpful for prevention of musculoskeletal disorders of instrument players.
Appointments and Schedules ; Bass ; Daegu ; Demography ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.) ; Percussion ; Prevalence ; Psychology ; Questionnaires ; Risk Factors ; Viola ; Wind

The authors studied depression in 5,869 college students (male: 3,893, female: 1,976) using Zung's Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). The results are as follows: 1) Female college students showed significantly higher total depression scores than male college students (p<0.001). 2) The items of confusion, indecisiveness, and psychomotor retardation were scored higher in both groups and the items of suicidal rumination, psychomotor agitation, constipation and tachycardia were scored lower in both groups. 3) 18.2% of male college students showed rather serious depression level of score 50 or higher, while 33.1% of female college students showed the same scores. 4) The psychosocial factors relating to pessimistic views to past, present & future self-images showed significantly high depression scores. 5) The depression items of fatigue, anxiousness, tachycardia, apprehension, fear, and body aches & pain were correlated significantly over 0.40 of correlation coefficient.
Constipation ; Depression* ; Fatigue ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Psychology ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Tachycardia

The authors studied anxiety, using Zung's SelfRating Anxiety Scale (SAS), in the subjects of 3,893 male and 1,976 female college students of Yeungnam University. The authors collected the reports of SAS during the periods from October to November, 1984, and applied ANOVA and ttest on the anxiety scores in order to compare them between various psychosocial factors, and sexes. The results could be summarized as follows: There was significant difference in the mean averages of total anxiety scores between male and female students; male students scored 36.92±7.07, female students scored 39.63±7.51, p<0.001. The anxiety scores relating to the items of sweating, apprehension, restlessness, insomnia, dyspnea were relatively higher in both groups. The anxiety scores in the items of paresthesias, mental disintegration, tremors, faintness, dizziness were lower in both groups. Two hundred and one male students (5.2%) showed seriously high anxiety scores of 50 or higher, while 201 female students (10.2%) showed the same scores. So the authors inferred that the features of anxiety symptoms were much the same in our country, but females showed more various symptoms and higher level of anxiety than males. In a comparison between male students in different school grades, freshmen showed the highest level of anxiety scores and as the grades of the students became higher, the levels of anxiety scores were lower. The female students who resided in dormitory or other residences, and whose educational fees were paid by brothers or sisters, showed higher level of anxiety scores. There was s strong tendency toward higher anxiety scores in the students who were dissatisfied with their colleges or departments, and who had pessimistic views of self-image in the past, present, or future, in both groups.
Anxiety* ; Dizziness ; Dyspnea ; Fees and Charges ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Paresthesia ; Psychology ; Psychomotor Agitation ; Siblings ; Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders ; Sweat ; Sweating ; Tremor

A cross-sectional study of 118 car painters and controls of 113 workers was performed to investigate the interrelation between self-reported neuropsychiatric symptom and neurobehavioral performance using Scandinavian Questionnaire 16, Zung anxiety, depression scale and Swedish performance evaluation system (simple reaction time, symbol digit, digit span, finger tapping speed). The typical symptoms characteristic of painter's syndrome were not found and no significant association was found between solvent exposure and !total score of neuropsychiatric symptom but neurobehavioral performance of simple reaction time, symbol digit and digit span had association with solvent exposure. No significant associations were found between total score of neurotoxic symptom, anxiety scale, depression scale and the neurobehavioral performance. In factor analysis, the factor of questionnaire 16 measuring function of memory demonstrated no significant association with the factor of neurobehavioral test items measuring short term memory.
Anxiety ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Depression ; Fingers ; Memory ; Questionnaires ; Reaction Time ; Solvents*

A cross-sectional study was performed to evaluate the effects of chronic low-dose sol-vent on neurobehavioral performance of 118 male car painters. A control group of 113 workers matched for age was selected from different sections of the factory. The mean age and the mean duration of employment were 33 years and 6.7 years in both groups. Mean years of education were 11.4 years in car painters and 11.8 years in controls. Each worker completed a medical and occupational questionnaire and four tests of Swedish performance evaluation system. These included simple reaction time, symbol digit, digit span and finger tapping speed. Although the mean duration of employment was 6.7 years, comparison of mean performance showed a significantly poorer performance on simple reaction time (P<0.05), symbol digit (p<0.01) and digit span(p<0.05) in car painters. In univariate analysis, age and educational level contributed to poorer performance on symbol digit and digit span smoking appeared to slow finger tapping speed in car painters. Performance of four tests of car painters exposed to high level of solvent was poorer than that of car painters exposed to low level. In multiple regression models, controlling for age, alcohol, smoking and shift work, solvent exposure was found to be associated with performance of simple reaction time, symbol digit and digit span and exposure to high level of solvent was related to poorer performance of symbol digit and digit span.
Cross-Sectional Studies ; Education ; Employment ; Fingers ; Humans ; Male ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Reaction Time ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Solvents*