The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and periodontal disease in postmenopausal women using data from the 4th and 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A total of 5,482 postmenopausal women aged 45~75 years were included as study subjects in the final analysis. The HRT group comprised 1,035 postmenopausal women who had received HRT for at least one month, and the non-HRT group comprised 4,447 postmenopausal women who did not receive HRT. The chi-square test was used to confirm the bivariate relationship between the variables. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for covariance (age, education, family income, body mass index, age of menopause, alcohol, smoking, dental visit < 1 per year, use of oral care products, and frequency of tooth brushing per day). After adjusting for all covariates, HRT was found to be associated with periodontal disease. In particular, the relationship between HRT and periodontal disease was more evident in older women and women younger than 45 years of menopausal age. The relationship between HRT and periodontal disease was stronger in women who brushed their teeth less than 3 times per day, women without regular oral examination, and women who did not use oral hygiene products. The results of this study confirmed the importance of actively considering hormone therapy when determining policy recommendations for postmenopausal women. Especially, health programs such as HRT, regular dental examination, and oral care are needed for older women who have undergone premature menopause.
Body Mass Index ; Diagnosis, Oral ; Education ; Female ; Hormone Replacement Therapy ; Humans ; Korea ; Logistic Models ; Menopause ; Menopause, Premature ; Nutrition Surveys ; Oral Hygiene ; Periodontal Diseases ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tooth

BACKGROUND: The health of the economically active population contributes to increased corporate productivity by reducing the productivity loss caused by disease and increasing job efficiency, which in turn is a national benefit. Since the economically active population is a concept encompassing workers and a source of economic development for a country, that population's health should be treated with importance not only from a personal standpoint but also at a national level. METHODS: In this study, data of 11,007 adults aged 20 years and older who participate in economic activities were analyzed in the five-year Korea Health Panel Study from 2010 to 2014 including the number of dental visits and dental medical expenses. RESULTS: Factors related to “gender,” “education level,” “age,” “duty category,” “income level,” “employment type,” “national health insurance,” and “chronic disease status” of the economically active population are affected in relation to the number of visits and dental medical expenses. The number of dental visits increased with higher education levels (p<0.001), and the number of visits to the dentist increased with older age (p <0.001). Dental medical expenses were 91,806 Korean won (KRW) more for “white-collar workers” than for “blue-collar workers” (p<0.03), and 127,674 KRW more for “regular workers” than for “atypical workers” (p<0.02). CONCLUSION: When it is necessary to improve policies to enhance the efficiency of the distribution of health and medical resources in the overall balance of the dental health sector, we should try to identify various factors of oral health disorder due to income inequality among the classes according to the country's employment type in order to find ways to reduce the health gap among the social classes.
Adult ; Dentists ; Economic Development ; Education ; Efficiency ; Employment ; Humans ; Korea ; Oral Health ; Social Class ; Socioeconomic Factors

Purpose: This study aimed to identify the factors influencing suicide attempts among middle school students with suicidal ideation. Methods: Data were from the 2019 Youth Health Risk Behavior Web-based survey collected by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The data were analyzed using the SPSS program. Results: Participants were 29,384 middle school students, there were 14.1% of suicide ideation, and 22.2% of them attempted suicide. Among the students with suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts were higher in those who had experiences of alcohol drinking, smoking, substance abuse, and sexual intercourse. Conclusion Therefore, to prevent suicide accidents among middle school students, there is a need for strategies that would reduce problem behavior such as alcohol drinking, smoking, sexual intercourse, and substance abuse. For middle school students who have already experienced problem behavior, efficient plans should be established for screening, prevention, and treatment of the high-risk groups in suicide attempts.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship between early menopause and periodontal disease in postmenopausal women using data from the 6th Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013~2015). A study was conducted with 2,048 postmenopausal women aged 45 to 74 years. Participants were divided into the early menopause group (menopause occurring at age 45 years or before) and normal menopause group (menopause occurring after age 45 years). A community periodontal index greater than or equal to code 3 was used to define periodontal treatment needs. A chi-square test was used to confirm the bivariate relationship between the variables. Multinomial logistic regression analysis was used to adjust for covariates (age, education, family income, body mass index, alcohol drinking, smoking, visiting dentist in the last year, use of oral care products, frequency of tooth brushing per day). The risk of periodontal disease was higher in the early menopause group after adjusting for potential confounders (odds ratio, 1.59). In particular, the relationship between early menopause and periodontal disease was more evident in women with low education and those who did not use oral care products. The findings of this study suggest that early menopause is a significant factor of periodontal disease in Korean women.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Dentists ; Education ; Female ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Menopause* ; Menopause, Premature ; Nutrition Surveys ; Periodontal Diseases* ; Periodontal Index ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Tooth

The incidence of spine trauma has been increasing. To investigate the incidence, characteristics, and difficulty in management of the acute spine-injuried patients in suburban area we analyzed 50 cases treated conservatively or by operative fusion over a recent one-year period. This study comprised of 26 females and 24 males, between 23 and 83 years old patients with injury of whole column of spine. The most frequent cause of injury was traffic accident. The most common lesion was the compression fracture of the first lumbar spine. Most patients complained neck or back pain on admission. In 3 cases, neurological deficits were noted. For six patients, surgical treatment were performed and 44 patients has been conservatively managed with halo brace, neck collars, and thoracolumbar orthoses. The average period of admi-ssion and immobilzation for the conservatively treated patients was 6 weeks. During which time a few complications such as progressive kyphosis, hypoalbuminemia, thrombophlebitis, urinary tract infection, paralytic ileus, bed sore, and alcohol withdrawal syndrome were aroused. In most cases, good outcomes were achieved. Most of geriatric patients, concomitant systemic diseases with cardiovascular and pulmonary dysfunction were usually present and absence of the insight on spine injury made difficulties in managment. On the basis of these results we concluded that most elderly patients with spine fracture coulde be effectively treated by conservative methods, and also careful and systemic management with adequate education for patients and their families were required.
Accidents, Traffic ; Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Back Pain ; Braces ; Education ; Female ; Fractures, Compression ; Humans ; Hypoalbuminemia ; Incidence ; Intestinal Pseudo-Obstruction ; Kyphosis ; Male ; Neck ; Orthotic Devices ; Pressure Ulcer ; Spine ; Thrombophlebitis ; Urinary Tract Infections

Background: and Purpose: Choline alfoscerate (CA) is an acetylcholine precursor known for its beneficial effect on cognition in patient with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD).However, there is little evidence of its effects in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We assessed the influence of CA on the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD in three observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model (CDM). Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with MCI and were aged over 60 years were included.After propensity score matching, 3,062 matched pairs patients using CA use and those not using CA were included. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) of CA use for conversion from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex, acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (AchEI) use, and donepezil use. Results: A meta-analysis across three hospitals revealed that CA use was not associated with the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–1.26) or ADD (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.51–1.59). Subgroup analyses revealed that CA use was not related to progression to all-cause dementia or ADD when stratified by sex, AchEI use, and donepezil use. Conclusions In this multicenter cohort study based on the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership CDM real-world data, no association was noted between CA use and disease progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD.

Background: and Purpose: Choline alfoscerate (CA) is an acetylcholine precursor known for its beneficial effect on cognition in patient with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD).However, there is little evidence of its effects in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We assessed the influence of CA on the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD in three observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model (CDM). Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with MCI and were aged over 60 years were included.After propensity score matching, 3,062 matched pairs patients using CA use and those not using CA were included. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) of CA use for conversion from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex, acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (AchEI) use, and donepezil use. Results: A meta-analysis across three hospitals revealed that CA use was not associated with the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–1.26) or ADD (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.51–1.59). Subgroup analyses revealed that CA use was not related to progression to all-cause dementia or ADD when stratified by sex, AchEI use, and donepezil use. Conclusions In this multicenter cohort study based on the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership CDM real-world data, no association was noted between CA use and disease progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD.

Background: and Purpose: Choline alfoscerate (CA) is an acetylcholine precursor known for its beneficial effect on cognition in patient with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD).However, there is little evidence of its effects in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We assessed the influence of CA on the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD in three observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model (CDM). Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with MCI and were aged over 60 years were included.After propensity score matching, 3,062 matched pairs patients using CA use and those not using CA were included. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) of CA use for conversion from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex, acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (AchEI) use, and donepezil use. Results: A meta-analysis across three hospitals revealed that CA use was not associated with the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–1.26) or ADD (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.51–1.59). Subgroup analyses revealed that CA use was not related to progression to all-cause dementia or ADD when stratified by sex, AchEI use, and donepezil use. Conclusions In this multicenter cohort study based on the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership CDM real-world data, no association was noted between CA use and disease progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD.

Background: and Purpose: Choline alfoscerate (CA) is an acetylcholine precursor known for its beneficial effect on cognition in patient with Alzheimer’s disease dementia (ADD).However, there is little evidence of its effects in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). We assessed the influence of CA on the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD in three observational Korean databases using a Common Data Model (CDM). Methods: Patients who were diagnosed with MCI and were aged over 60 years were included.After propensity score matching, 3,062 matched pairs patients using CA use and those not using CA were included. The Cox regression model was used to analyze the hazard ratio (HR) of CA use for conversion from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD. Subgroup analyses were performed based on sex, acetylcholine esterase inhibitor (AchEI) use, and donepezil use. Results: A meta-analysis across three hospitals revealed that CA use was not associated with the progression from MCI to all-cause dementia (hazard ratio [HR], 0.93; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59–1.26) or ADD (HR, 1.05; 95% CI, 0.51–1.59). Subgroup analyses revealed that CA use was not related to progression to all-cause dementia or ADD when stratified by sex, AchEI use, and donepezil use. Conclusions In this multicenter cohort study based on the Observational Medical Outcomes Partnership CDM real-world data, no association was noted between CA use and disease progression from MCI to all-cause dementia or ADD.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was: 1) To investigate health status(health behavior, health problem and cognition), depression and social support of elderly beneficiaries of the National Basic Livelihood Security System. 2) To identify the relationships among health status, depression and social support. METHODS: This descriptive study used a cross-sectional design. The study sample was a total of 883 elderly recipients supported from the National Basic Livelihood Security System. Quotas for sampling were designed and conducted nationwide throughout Korea. RESULTS: The mean age was 76.2 and the 79.6% of the sample were female. The scores for the health behavior, health problem, ADL, and cognition were 23.9, 4.4, 39.6 and 24.9, respectively. Additionally, the depression score was 19.8 and the social support score was 63.2. Gender, age, education, religion, marital status and monthly income were found as important variables in increasing health status and in decreasing depression among the elderly. Furthermore, depression showed a positive correlation with health problems, but showed negative correlations with health behavior, ADL, and cognition. The upper 25% of social support recipients suffered less depression than the lower 25% of the recipients. Subjects with more social supports had higher ADL scores and less health problem. CONCLUSION: These findings provide significant practical implications for nursing intervention, including social support for the elderly receiving assistance from the National Basic Livelihood Security System.
Activities of Daily Living ; Aged ; Cognition ; Depression ; Female ; Health Behavior ; Humans ; Marital Status