PURPOSE: This study was conducted to evaluate the association between AR and mental health status in the general Korean adult population and to investigate the relative burden of AR on mental health using the Allergic Rhinitis and Its Impact on Asthma (ARIA) classification. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was performed by using data from 11,154 individuals, 19 years old or older in the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2011-2012. Univariate analysis was conducted in the healthy AR groups with weighted prevalence of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and comorbid diseases. Subanalysis that classified AR severity according to the ARIA classification was carried out to evaluate the relationship of AR severity with mental health. The odds ratios (ORs) for each component representing mental health status were estimated by multiple logistic regression analysis with confounder adjustment. RESULTS: Univariate analysis with the chi-square test after adjustment for age, sex, body mass index, smoking status, alcohol use status, and exercise status, components representing mental health status showed a linear relationship with the severity of AR according to the ARIA classification. Stress, depressive mood, suicidal thoughts, and psychological consultation factors were correlated with AR after adjustment for demographic characteristics and socioeconomic status. Even after adjustment for comorbid allergic diseases, the correlation remained significant with stress, depressive mood, and psychological consultation factors (OR [95% CI]; 1.227 [1.042, 1.445], 1.368 [1.095, 1.71], 1.804 [1.096, 2.969], respectively). CONCLUSIONS: Patients with AR appear to be at higher risk of mental disorders in the general Korean adult population. Moreover, persistent or severe AR was correlated with poor mental health. Therefore, better control of AR may be conducive to better mental health, and more attention should be paid to the psychological status of AR patients.
Adult* ; Asthma ; Body Mass Index ; Classification ; Community Health Planning ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Humans ; Logistic Models ; Mental Disorders ; Mental Health* ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Rhinitis* ; Smoke ; Smoking ; Social Class

OBJECTIVES: This is the first study of its kind to investigate the relationship between chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) with or without nasal polyps (NP) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in the general adult Korean population. We sought to evaluate the association after adjustment for confounding factors. We also evaluated HRQoL according to presence of NP in CRS patients. METHODS: In this cross-sectional study we used nationally representative samples from the 5th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2010-2012). A total of 17,490 participants were included in the study, of which 613 were diagnosed with CRS. Univariate analysis was conducted on healthy versus CRS groups, segregated by gender with weighted prevalence of demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and comorbid diseases. Subanalysis was carried out to evaluate the relationship between CRS with or without NP and HRQoL using EuroQol 5-dimension (EQ-5D) and visual analog scale (EQ-VAS). The odds ratios for EQ-5D were estimated by multiple logistic regression analyses with confounder adjustment. RESULTS: Weighted prevalence of CRS of adult male was found to be 3.7% and CRS with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) 0.5%, while female CRS was 3.3% and CRSwNP 0.3%. There was no significant difference between the groups (P#x0003d;0.332). The scores for female, EQ-5D index (P for trend<0.001) and EQ-VAS (P for trend=0.002) showed decreasing trend from healthy participants to CRS without nasal polyps (CRSsNP) and from CRSsNp to CRSwNP. After adjusting for demographic characteristics, socioeconomic status, and comorbid diseases, EQ-5D scores; EQ-5D index (P<0.001) and EQ-VAS (P<0.001) exhibited poorer HRQoL compared to healthy participants, exclusively within the female group. CONCLUSION: These data suggest that female patients with CRS are at higher risk of poor HRQoL. In addition, HRQoL of female CRSwNP was lower compared to those of CRSsNP and healthy participants.
Adult ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Female ; Healthy Volunteers ; Humans ; Korea* ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Nasal Polyps* ; Nutrition Surveys* ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Quality of Life* ; Sinusitis ; Social Class ; Visual Analog Scale

OBJECTIVES: Osteoporotic hip fractures are associated with high mortality in the older population. Few population studies have reported the long-term trends of incidence and mortality rate of hip fracture among the older in Korea. This study assessed the incidence and mortality rate within 1 year after hip fracture from 2006 to 2015 in South Korea. METHODS: The National Health Information Database was used to identify adults aged 60 years and older with a diagnosis of hip fracture and died within 1 year from hip fracture. Regression analyses were performed to estimate the change of the incidence of hip fracture and the related mortality rate. RESULTS: The events causing hip fracture increased 1.85 times (1.91 times in women and 1.71 times in men), and the incidence of hip fracture increased 1.23 times (1.30 times in women and 1.11 times in men) from 2006 to 2015. The mortality rate after hip fracture decreased by 10% in women; however, it increased by 13% in men. These trends were more prominent in the older population. CONCLUSIONS: Although the mortality rate after hip fracture in women decreased, other parameters associated with hip fracture have worsened during the last decade. Nationwide programs were urgently needed to reduce the future socioeconomic burdens of hip fractures.
Adult ; Cohort Studies ; Diagnosis ; Female ; Hip Fractures ; Hip ; Humans ; Incidence ; Korea ; Male ; Mortality ; Osteoporosis

The authors regret that the standardized incidence rate for age (70–79) in Table 1 published in this paper was incorrect.

Background: Body mass index (BMI) is a risk factor for the type 2 diabetes (T2DM), and T2DM accompanies various complications, such as fractures. We investigated the effects of BMI and T2DM on fracture risk and analyzed whether the association varied with fracture locations. Methods: This study is a nationwide population-based cohort study that included all people with T2DM (n=2,746,078) who received the National Screening Program during 2009–2012. According to the anatomical location of the fracture, the incidence rate and hazard ratio (HR) were analyzed by dividing it into four categories: vertebra, hip, limbs, and total fracture. Results: The total fracture had higher HR in the underweight group (HR, 1.268; 95% CI, 1.228 to 1.309) and lower HR in the obese group (HR, 0.891; 95% CI, 0.882 to 0.901) and the morbidly obese group (HR, 0.873; 95% CI, 0.857 to 0.89), compared to reference (normal BMI group). Similar trends were observed for HR of vertebra fracture. The risk of hip fracture was most prominent, the risk of hip fracture increased in the underweight group (HR, 1.896; 95% CI, 1.178 to 2.021) and decreased in the obesity (HR, 0.643; 95% CI, 0.624 to 0.663) and morbidly obesity group (HR, 0.627; 95% CI, 0.591 to 0.665). Lastly, fracture risk was least affected by BMI for limbs. Conclusion In T2DM patients, underweight tends to increase fracture risk, and overweight tends to lower fracture risk, but association between BMI and fracture risk varied depending on the affected bone lesions.

The prevalence of obesity in Korea has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching 38.4% in 2021. Notably, the rate of class II– III obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher, exceeded 7% in the same year. Since January 2019, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has provided coverage for bariatric surgery (BS) for eligible patients. Coverage is available for individuals with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher, or those with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher who also have obesity-related comorbidities. Additionally, partial reimbursement is offered for BS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have BMI values between 27.5 and 30 kg/m2. From 2019 to 2022, the NHIS recorded 9,080 BS procedures, with sleeve gastrectomy being the most commonly performed. The average percentage of weight loss 198±99.7 days post-surgery was 17.9%, with 80.0% of patients losing more than 10% of their body weight. This article presents the trends in obesity and BS in Korea.

The prevalence of obesity in Korea has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching 38.4% in 2021. Notably, the rate of class II– III obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher, exceeded 7% in the same year. Since January 2019, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has provided coverage for bariatric surgery (BS) for eligible patients. Coverage is available for individuals with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher, or those with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher who also have obesity-related comorbidities. Additionally, partial reimbursement is offered for BS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have BMI values between 27.5 and 30 kg/m2. From 2019 to 2022, the NHIS recorded 9,080 BS procedures, with sleeve gastrectomy being the most commonly performed. The average percentage of weight loss 198±99.7 days post-surgery was 17.9%, with 80.0% of patients losing more than 10% of their body weight. This article presents the trends in obesity and BS in Korea.

Background: and Purpose: To determine whether the postcessation weight gain modifies the protective effect of smoking on the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Methods: This nationwide cohort study included 3,908,687 Korean males aged ≥40 years who underwent at least 2 health checkups biennially between 2009 and 2015. They were grouped into current smokers; quitters with body mass index (BMI) increase, maintenance, and decrease; and never smokers. The occurrence of incident PD was tracked, and Cox proportional-hazard models were used to adjust for potential confounding factors. We also analyzed the impact of weight change regardless of smoking status in the study population. Results: There were 6,871 incident PD cases observed during the 13,059,208 person-years of follow-up. The overall risk of PD was significantly lower in quitters than in never smokers [hazard ratio (HR)=0.78, 95% confidence interval (CI)=0.70–0.86]. The risk of PD was still lower in quitters with BMI increase (HR=0.80, 95% CI=0.65–0.98) and in those with BMI maintenance (HR=0.77, 95% CI=0.68–0.87). This tendency was also observed in quitters with BMI decrease (HR=0.76, 95% CI=0.55–1.06), although it was not as robust as in the other two groups.With respect to weight change alone, BMI increase (HR=1.10, 95% CI=1.02–1.18) but not BMI decrease (HR=1.06, 95% CI=0.98–1.14) significantly increased the PD risk compared to BMI maintenance. Conclusions Postcessation weight gain in males did not offset the protective impact of smoking on PD development, although overall weight gain predicted an increased risk of PD.

The prevalence of obesity in Korea has steadily increased over the past decade, reaching 38.4% in 2021. Notably, the rate of class II– III obesity, defined as a body mass index (BMI) of 30 kg/m2 or higher, exceeded 7% in the same year. Since January 2019, the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) has provided coverage for bariatric surgery (BS) for eligible patients. Coverage is available for individuals with a BMI of 35 kg/m2 or higher, or those with a BMI of 30 kg/m2 or higher who also have obesity-related comorbidities. Additionally, partial reimbursement is offered for BS in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who have BMI values between 27.5 and 30 kg/m2. From 2019 to 2022, the NHIS recorded 9,080 BS procedures, with sleeve gastrectomy being the most commonly performed. The average percentage of weight loss 198±99.7 days post-surgery was 17.9%, with 80.0% of patients losing more than 10% of their body weight. This article presents the trends in obesity and BS in Korea.