BACKGROUND: With rapid growth in the number of older Koreans and prevalence of dementia, exercise has been emphasized as first, second and third prevention of dementia. A few study, however, investigate effects of detraining and retraining in demented elders. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 24 week exercise followed by 12 week detraining and retraining on physical and cognitive function in demented seniors. METHODS: Thirty-five demented older adults were assigned into exercise and control group. Exercise group performed multi-component exercise, 2 times a week for 24 weeks. After 12 week detraining, subjects were retraining for 12 weeks. Subjects were tested four times on physiological variables, physical function and cognitive function. Ten subjects in exercise group and 6 subjects in control group were remained at final 48 week, and data from them were analyzed. RESULTS: There were no significant effects on physiological variable in both groups. However, 24 week exercise improved upper and lower body strength, flexibility, dynamic mobility and physical function. These effects, however, were significantly decreased in 12 week detraining period and increased again after 12 week retraining. There were significance group differences. Cognitive function was improved after 24 week exercise but decreased in detraining and retraining period and no significant difference between groups was shown. CONCLUSIONS: The present study suggests that positive effects after exercise tend to be reduced once one stops exercise, and be improved again after retraining. Therefore, strategies to encourage demented elders to exercise are needed.
Adult ; Dementia* ; Humans ; Pliability ; Prevalence

BACKGROUND: Exercise has shown to slow down the progression from mild cognitive impairment (MCI) to dementia. In particular, not only resistance exercise has been verified to improve physical performance and muscle strength, leading to the prevention of fall-related injuries in the frail elderly, but also cognitive function. In this study, we investigated how high-speed elastic band training, applied using a high-speed power training protocol, affects cognition, physical performance and muscle strength of female elderly individuals with MCI. METHODS: Thirty-nine subjects diagnosed with MCI from one senior college using a Korean version of mini-mental state examination (MMSE-K) and a Korean version of the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA-K) were randomly divided into exercise group (n=20) and control group (n=19). The exercise group completed a 12-week high-speed resistance elastic band exercise program and was encouraged to exercise at home as well during the intervention period. RESULTS: The results showed significant increases in cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength assessed by digit span forward test (P<0.001), digit span backward test (P=0.003), the Stroop test B (P=0.031), SPPB scores (P=0.010), right knee 60degrees extensor peak torque (P=0.004), 60degrees flexor peak torque (P=0.001), 180degrees extensor peak torque (P=0.020) and grip strength (P=0.025). CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that participants with MCI who continued the high-speed elastic band training program for 12 weeks showed improvements in cognitive function, physical performance and muscle strength.
Aged ; Cognition ; Dementia ; Education ; Female ; Frail Elderly ; Hand Strength ; Humans ; Knee ; Mild Cognitive Impairment* ; Muscle Strength* ; Resistance Training ; Stroop Test ; Torque

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this research was to investigate the relationship of unbalanced diet habits and eating behaviors between school age children and their mothers. METHODS: From the Wonju area of Gangwon-do, 232 children and their mothers were recruited for this study. General characteristics, degree of unbalanced diet, eating behaviors, factors associated with food preferences, food preferences, and food intake frequencies were obtained through a questionnaire. RESULTS: The degree of unbalanced diet habits were significantly correlated between school age children and their mothers. Children's eating behaviors were also highly affected by their mother's eating behaviors. Especially, the frequency of eating breakfast showed a significant correlation between children and mothers. Among the factors associated with food preferences, family eating habits, appetite, and emotions showed significant associations between girls and mothers. As for food preferences, preference for meat in children was not significantly associated with that in their mothers, whereas preference for perilla oil and butter was significantly associated with preference in their mothers. The relationship of food preferences between children and mothers differed according to the sex of the children. Further, the intake frequencies for most foods were highly correlated between children and mothers. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the unbalanced diet habits and eating behaviors of mothers can affect those in their children. Moreover, the correlations of food preferences between children and their mothers were different depending on the sex of the children. Our data suggest that educating mothers about their diet and eating behaviors could improve the eating practices of their children.
Appetite ; Breakfast ; Butter ; Child* ; Diet* ; Eating ; Feeding Behavior* ; Female ; Food Habits ; Food Preferences ; Gangwon-do ; Humans ; Meat ; Mothers* ; Perilla ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: We compared factors associated with self-reported depression and, in particular, diagnosis and treatment of depressive symptoms in Korean adults. METHODS: The sample included 13,306 adults aged 19 years or older from the 2010 and 2011 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES V). Data were applied to the chi2 test and multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The following characteristics of individuals are significantly associated with self-reported depression: female (vs. male, OR [odds ratio]=3.35), ages 50-59 years (vs. 60+, OR=1.45), economic status (low vs. high, OR=1.35; middle-low vs. high OR=1.29), unemployed (vs. employed, OR=1.23), education (elementary vs. college, OR=1.18; middle school vs. college, OR=1.27; vs. high school vs. college, OR=1.18), current smoking (vs. no, OR=1.19), high-risk alcohol consumption (vs. no, OR=1.18), perceived health (good vs. very good/excellent, OR=1.156; poor/fair vs. very good/excellent, OR=2.65), chronic disease (vs. no, OR=1.26), activity limitation due to health problems (vs. no, OR=1.74), and being in a sickbed during the past month (vs. not in a sickbed, OR=1.69). Living in a metropolitan area (vs. rural, OR=1.40) is significantly associated with greater odds of being diagnosed with depression. The odds of being treated for depression are lower for female (vs. male, OR=0.53). Greater odds of being treated for depression was seen for those with chronic conditions (vs. no, OR=1.73) and activity limitation due to health problems (vs. no, OR=2.05), as well as, those in a sickbed (vs. not, OR=1.88). CONCLUSIONS: Applying our findings, policy makers should address the lower rates of depression diagnosed in non-metropolitan areas to reduce regional variations, and also promote treatment in females.
Administrative Personnel ; Adult* ; Alcohol Drinking ; Chronic Disease ; Depression* ; Diagnosis* ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nutrition Surveys ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: Compliance with self-care and lifestyle modification is recommended for all patients with acute coronary syndrome to prevent a secondary attack. Data is limited regarding the association between compliance with self-care and restenosis. This study was conducted to examine the association between compliance with self-care and restenosis and to determine the predicting factors for restenosis and low compliance with self-care. METHODS: A total of 166 acute coronary syndrome patients (64.2+/-10.8 years) hospitalized for an angiogram during routine follow-up or symptom management were conveniently recruited from a university hospital cardiovascular care unit. Self-administered questionnaires were used to evaluate the level of compliance with self-care and symptom-related satisfaction. RESULTS: In-stent restenosis was found in 40.4% of the subjects and 36.1% were persistently smoking. There was no significant relationship between low compliance with self-care and restensosis. A lower symptom-related satisfaction significantly predicted restenosis and low compliance with self-care. A longer period after initial diagnosis predicted restenosis and a shorter period after initial diagnosis predicted low compliance with self-care. Persistent smoking was independently associated with low compliance with self-care. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who continued to smoke and had lower symptom-related satisfaction with daily living showed a stronger tendency for lower compliance with self-care and lifestyle modification. Effective educational strategy focusing on smoking cessation is needed to increase compliance with self-care in patients with ACS, especially during admission with a first heart attack.
Acute Coronary Syndrome ; Compliance ; Coronary Artery Disease ; Follow-Up Studies ; Heart ; Humans ; Life Style ; Patient Compliance ; Self Care ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Smoking Cessation ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND: Several practice guidelines for management of dyslipidemia including the National Cholesterol Education Program recommend regular physician follow-up and lipid testing to promote adherence with lipid-modifying drugs. The objective of this study was to analyze the pattern of medical care use among lipid-modifying drug users. METHODS: A retrospective cohort study was conducted with 57,801 new users of lipid-modifying drugs who initiated treatment in 2005. The Korean National Health Insurance Claims Data was used to examine the pattern of medical care use and related factors after treatment initiation for up to two years. Getting the prescription and follow-up lipid testing were considered use of medical care. RESULTS: More than 95% of the patients visited physicians for prescriptions or lipid testings in the first year after initiating drug therapy. In the first two months, 77% had both prescription and follow-up lipid testing, while in the second year, approximately 57% had. Rate for follow-up lipid testing in the first two months was about 78%, but 55% in the second year. Approximately 74% of the patients continued using ambulatory medical care in the second year. In multiple logistic regression analysis, the probability of continual visits in the second year increased in patients who visited one medical institution for prescription and lipid testing within six months. CONCLUSIONS: Early and frequent visits, especially for lipid testings, were associated with continuous medical care use. Patients should be educated regarding the importance of dyslipidemia management in the early stage after treatment initiation.
Cholesterol ; Cohort Studies ; Drug Users ; Dyslipidemias ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; National Health Programs ; Prescriptions ; Retrospective Studies

BACKGROUND: There has been little research done on the factors associated with snoring among adults in Korea. METHODS: Subjects for this cross-sectional study were 1940 adults aged 20 to 80 years who had visited the health promotion center at one university hospital in Chungcheongnam-do for general health check-ups. Standard interviews, anthropometrics, and biochemical studies were conducted. Habitual snoring was defined as snoring more than 4 days per week. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the associations between habitual snoring and age, sex, smoking, alcohol consumption, body mass index (BMI), waist circumference, hypertension, diabetes mellitus and dyslipidemia. RESULTS: The prevalence of habitual snoring was 13.9%. The proportion of problem drinkers, current smokers, BMI equal to or greater than 25 kg/m2, abdominal obesity, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterolemia increased significantly with increasing frequency in snoring (P<0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that habitual snoring was independently associated with the 50-59 years age group, male, current smokers, abdominal obesity, hypertension and low HDL-cholesterolemia (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: These findings show that habitual snorers are at increased risk for individual risk factors associated with cardiovascular diseases. Prospective studies are needed to further examine the causal relationship between habitual snoring and cardiovascular diseases.
Adult ; Aged ; Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypercholesterolemia ; Hypertension ; Hypertriglyceridemia ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Obesity, Abdominal ; Prevalence ; Risk Factors ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snoring ; Waist Circumference

BACKGROUND: Metabolic syndrome increases the risk for cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes mellitus. Many studies have revealed that eating frequency influences the total serum cholesterol level, glucose tolerance and obesity. Hypothesizing that an increase in eating frequency decreases the prevalence of metabolic syndrome with total energy intake adjusted, we evaluated the association between eating frequency and the risk of metabolic syndrome in Koreans aged more than 20 years old. METHODS: We used the data from the 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Metabolic syndrome was defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III and the Asia-Pacific regional obesity guidelines. To examine the association of metabolic syndrome with eating frequency, snack frequency and meal frequency, we performed multiple logistic regression analysis adjusting for age, sex, physical activity, daily caloric intake, smoking and drinking. RESULTS: Meal frequency was associated with metabolic syndrome in the 20-45 years group (P=0.011). Eating frequency was significantly related with metabolic syndrome in the group aged more than 45 years (P=0.025). Within the subgroup of subjects more than 45 years who had one or two meals a day, snack frequency showed a significant association with metabolic syndrome (P=0.038). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that a decreased eating frequency is associated with a risk of metabolic syndrome, although the causal relationship is not exactly known. It would be useful to pursue this question through further studies.
Adult ; Aged ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Cholesterol ; Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 ; Eating ; Energy Intake ; Food Habits ; Glucose ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Meals ; Motor Activity ; Nutrition Surveys ; Obesity ; Prevalence ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Snacks

With the development of body sensor technology, wearable health monitoring systems have been an emerging information technology in the 'ubiquitous health care' system. Wearable sensors enable long-term continuous physiological monitoring important in health promotion and management of many chronic disorders. In this paper, we present several wearable health monitoring systems developed by different countries and discuss emerging opportunities, as well as, existing challenges such as standardization, administration, validation, and discrepancy issues between technology and clinical implication.
Health Promotion ; Monitoring, Physiologic ; Telemedicine

BACKGROUND: Socio-economic factors, culture, and the health care delivery system are all associated with increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). However, their significance and prevalence in Korea have not been precisely determined. The purposes of this study were to identify factors related to increased CVD risk among Koreans, and compare the results with those of previous studies. METHODS: This study is an analysis of secondary data collected through the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. For the purposes of this research, CVD is defined as medically diagnosed hypertension, stroke, angina, and myocardial infarction. Of the 38,746 survey participants, we analyzed 4,727 subjects who suffered from CVD. RESULTS: Before the age of 50, men have a greater risk of CVD than women while a woman's risk of CVD after 50 begins to rise with age. Socioeconomic factors such as education, income, single living pattern, chronic kidney disease (CKD), diabetes mellitus (DM), depression, rheumatic arthritis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, body mass index and waist circumference, lipids, physical activity, and diet are all associated with the prevalence of CVD. A multi-variate analysis demonstrated that CKD (odds ratio, OR=5.266, P<0.001) and DM (OR=2.872, P<0.001) are the strongest independent predictors of CVD among Koreans. CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of CVD among Korean was about 12.2%. While most risk factors had similar influence on the development of CVD, depression, CKD, and DM showed stronger correlations than those seen in studies performed in other countries. Our results show that a greater importance should be placed on strict and early management of these diseases.
Body Mass Index ; Cardiovascular Diseases ; Chronic Disease ; Delivery of Health Care ; Depression ; Diabetes Mellitus ; Diet ; Female ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Hypertension ; Korea ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Myocardial Infarction ; Nutrition Surveys ; Prevalence ; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic ; Rheumatic Fever ; Risk Factors ; Socioeconomic Factors ; Stroke ; Waist Circumference