Recent studies in Western countries have reported a significant association between glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and bone mineral density (BMD) in the absence of dialysis among the general population. However, there have been few studies regarding renal function and BMD among Korean or Asian subjects with moderate to severe (stage 3 or 4) chronic kidney disease (MS-CKD). The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between MS-CKD and BMD in the general Korean population. BMD, serum creatinine and other measures were obtained from 3,190 subjects (1,428 males and 1,762 females; the fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey). GFR was estimated using the Cockcroft-Gault formula, with adjustment for body surface area. After adjustment for all variables, multiple regression analysis showed that BMD in the femur neck, total femur and lumbar spine were positively associated with eGFR in both males and females. Additional analysis showed that MS-CKD was also significantly associated with osteoporosis in both males and females (odds ratio [OR] 2.20, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.15-4.20 in males; and OR 1.96, 95% CI 1.33-2.88 in females). Individuals with MS-CKD may be at higher risk of osteoporosis even among Asians.
Adult ; Aged ; *Bone Density ; Creatinine/blood ; Female ; Femur/physiopathology ; Femur Neck/physiopathology ; Glomerular Filtration Rate ; Humans ; Lumbar Vertebrae/physiopathology ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Nutrition Surveys ; Odds Ratio ; Osteoporosis/etiology ; Regression Analysis ; Renal Insufficiency, Chronic/complications/*physiopathology ; Republic of Korea ; Severity of Illness Index

PURPOSE: This study is aimed at obtaining the information on the physical fitness level of female flight attendants at a local airline. METHODS: The subjects are 2,409 female flight attendants who have had medical examination and physical fitness tests at an airline medical center from January 2 to December 30, 2008. The independent variables include socio-demographic & behavioral characteristics, and medical examination results, whereas the dependent variable is their physical strength score representing their fitness level. RESULTS: Factors that affect the fitness strength score are age, flight hours per year, and fasting blood sugar level. It is found that physical fitness level is higher when the subjects are over 35, on board for over 850 hours per year and their fasting blood sugar level is over 100 mg/dL. CONCLUSION: It is concluded that for the improvement of flight attendants' health, more exercise to develop cardio-respiratory endurance and muscular strength is needed, and further study needs to be done to develop fitness enhancement programs considering flight attendants' job characteristics, working years, and flight hours per year, and programs for those returning to their workplace after a long-term leave, and new employees.
Blood Glucose ; Fasting ; Female ; Humans ; Physical Fitness

OBJECTIVES: This study was conducted to investigate problem drinking and analyze factors associated with alcohol use among female firefighters, as well as to provide useful data for management of alcohol use by female firefighters. METHODS: The study includeed 1,587 female firefighters from throught Koea. Data were collected from June to July in 2008 using self-administered questionnaires including a general questionnaire, work related questionnaire, the Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), the Korean Occupational Stress Scale Short Form (KOSS-26), and the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CESD). Among 1,263 female firefighters (75.6%) surveyed, the results of 1,084 qualified questionnaires (70.5%) were analyzed using the chi-square test, Fisher's exact test, and multiple logistic regression. RESULTS: The prevalence of problem drinking (AUDIT score > or =8) in female firefighters was 12.5%. Multiple logistic analysis showed that being single, smoking and depression were correlated with problem drinking. Single female firefighter, present smokers and individuals positive for symptoms of depression had OR values of 2.11, 17.58 and 1.76, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Three factors were found to influnce the occurrence of problem drinking. Accordingly, smoking related education, counseling to cope effectively with depression and health promotion programs that consider psychological effects of job stress are needed to reduce work related factors that lead to problem drinking by female firefighters.
Counseling ; Depression ; Drinking ; Drinking Behavior ; Epidemiologic Studies ; Female ; Firefighters ; Health Promotion ; Humans ; Phosphatidylethanolamines ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Smoke ; Smoking

OBJECTIVES: The present study aims to determine the causal relationship between self-rated depression and experiences of injury and accidents in municipal firefighters. METHODS: A panel survey of 186 municipal firefighters measured with depressive symptoms according to the Beck's depression index (BDI) was conducted. The effects of job-related injuries and accidents were evaluated using self-administered questionnaires that were taken once in a 12-month period from 2005 to 2006. Firefighters were classified into the Depression Group or Control Group based on follow-up BDI results with a cutoff level that was set to having "over mild depression." RESULTS: The depression Group was comprised of 17 (9.1%) workers, including 9 firefighters who met had sufficient BDI scores twice in the 2-year test period and newly sufficient BDI scores in the follow-up test. A significantly higher number of subjects in the Depression Group experienced injuries and accidents in the 2-year test period as compared to the Control Group (15.4% vs. 1.5%, p=0.04). Firefighters who experienced injuries and accidents in the 2-year test period had a 7.4 times higher risk of being in the Depression Group than those who had not. As compared to accidents, near-miss accidents revealed stronger risks related to being classified as in the Depression group (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 4.58, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.15-18.18 vs. Adjusted OR = 4.22, 95% CI = 1.08-16.58). CONCLUSION: The above results suggest that we should establish an effective program to promote mental health for groups at high risk for self-rated depression, including persons who have experienced consecutive injuries and accidents as well as near-miss injuries.
Accidents, Occupational ; Depression ; Firefighters ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Male ; Mental Health ; Odds Ratio ; Surveys and Questionnaires ; Rescue Work

OBJECTIVE: This study was conducted to assess the reliability, the validity, the psychological characteristics, and the internal structure of the Negative Acts Questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) for nurses for the assessment of the workplace bullying. METHODS: A total of 190 female nurses who worked in a university hospital and who had participated in an annual health surveillance program were recruited into the study. A structured questionnaire was used to evaluate each participant's workplace bullying, job stress, and psychosocial wellbeing. Workplace bullying was assessed using the negative acts questionnaire-revised (NAQ-R), job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF) and psychosocial wellbeing was assessed using the Psychosocial Wellbeing Index-Short Form (PWI-SF). Resulting answers from the questionnaires were analyzed by chi-square, ANOVA, correlation analysis, and factor analysis. RESULTS: Victims of workplace bullying of nurses in a hospital is 37(19%) based on operational bullying criteria. The Cronbach's alpha for the negative acts questionnaire-revised (NAQ-R) is 0.9260. By exploratory factor analysis, we conclude that 3 factor are most relevant. Criterion validity was satisfied with that a negative acts questionnaire-Revised (NAQ-R) resulting in a statistically significant and positive relationship with PWI-SF , construct validity was satisfied with that NAQ-R has statistically significant and high positive correlation with the occupational climate of the KOSS results. CONCLUSIONS: The negative acts questionnaire-revised (NAQ-R) is a reliable and valid tool for the assessment of workplace bullying in the hospital nurse. By using this tool, we can imply the prevalence of and the condition of workplace bullying among the nurse.
Bullying ; Climate ; Female ; Humans ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires ; Reproducibility of Results

OBJECTIVES: Determining the work-relatedness of lung cancer developed through occupational exposures is very difficult. Aims of the present study are to develop a decision tree of occupational lung cancer. METHODS: 153 cases of lung cancer surveyed by the Occupational Safety and Health Research Institute (OSHRI) from 1992-2007 were included. The target variable was whether the case was approved as work-related lung cancer, and independent variables were age, sex, pack-years of smoking, histological type, type of industry, latency, working period and exposure material in the workplace. The Classification and Regression Test (CART) model was used in searching for predictors of occupational lung cancer. RESULTS: In the CART model, the best predictor was exposure to known lung carcinogens. The second best predictor was 8.6 years or higher latency and the third best predictor was smoking history of less than 11.25 pack-years. The CART model must be used sparingly in deciding the work-relatedness of lung cancer because it is not absolute. CONCLUSION: We found that exposure to lung carcinogens, latency and smoking history were predictive factors of approval for occupational lung cancer. Further studies for work-relatedness of occupational disease are needed.
Academies and Institutes ; Carcinogens ; Decision Trees ; Lung ; Lung Neoplasms ; Occupational Diseases ; Occupational Exposure ; Occupational Health ; Regression Analysis* ; Smoke ; Smoking

BACKGROUND: An unhealthy lifestyle is the most important cause of lifestyle-induced illness (diabetes, hypertension, liver enzyme abnormality, dyslipidemia etc.). This study was carried out to evaluate that relation between employees' lifestyle and their health status in a Korean electronic research and development company. METHODS: We conducted a descriptive cross-sectional survey. 3,041 consecutive workers in a Korean R&D company were enrolled in this study. A checkup list for the health examination (from the National Health Insurance Coperation), which contained the information on the lifestyle, and the results of the health examination, which contained information on the body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP), and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), and liver function tests (LFT, AST, ALT, gamma-GTP) and cholesterol profiles (total cholesterol, TG, HDL, LDL) were done for all the subjects. We evaluated the health profile as normal or abnormal. Statistical analysis of the health profiles and the lifestyle of the employees' was performing by using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of 'excessive alcohol drinking' was 52.9% (n=1,610), that for 'lack of exercise' was 86.2% (n=2,662), that for 'meat eating' 12.2% (n=370) and that for 'current smoker' was 31.3% (n=952). According to results of health examination, the prevalence of obesity was 27.1% (n=824), hypertension was 7.1% (n=215), diabetes was 1.0% (n=30), abnormal LFT was 15.4% (n=469) and dyslipidemia was 18.7% (n=569). On multiple logistic regression analysis of the health profile and lifestyle, 'meat eating' was related to obesity, hypertension, abnormal LFT (ALT, gamma-GTP), dyslipidemia (LDL). 'Excessive alcohol drinking' was related to obesity, hypertension, abnormal LFT (gamma-GTP). 'Lack of exercise' was related to dyslipidemia (HDL). 'Current smoker' was related to obesity, diabetes, abnormal LFT (ALT, gamma-GTP), and dyslipidemia (TG, HDL) with statistically significance. CONCLUSIONS: For workers in the R&D company, an unhealthy lifestyle (such as diet, alcohol drinking, lack of exercise and smoking) were related to obesity, hypertension, diabetes, abnormal LFT and dyslipidemia. Therefore health promotion is necessary for the young employees of an Korean R&D company.
Alcohol Drinking ; Blood Pressure ; Body Mass Index ; Cholesterol ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Diet ; Dyslipidemias ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Health Promotion ; Hypertension ; Life Style ; Liver ; Liver Function Tests ; Logistic Models ; National Health Programs ; Obesity ; Prevalence

OBJECTIVES: The objectives of this study were to determine the relationship between lifestyle-implementation and metabolic syndrome in an electronics research and development company, and to provide a foundation for health providers of health management programs for setting priorities. METHODS: From July 1 to July 16, 2008 we carried out a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Consecutive workers of one R & D company in Seoul, Korea (N=2,079) were enrolled in study. A checklist for lifestyle (from the National Health Insurance Corporation) consisted of questions regarding diet, drinking, smoking and exercise. After the survey, researchers obtained data from health profiles for metabolic syndrome(waist-circumference, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol, blood pressure and fasting blood sugar level). Lifestyle was recorded as good or not good. Statistical analysis of metabolic syndrome and the lifestyle of subjects was done using multiple logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: The prevalence of metabolic syndrome in our study gropu was 13.3% (N=277). After adjustment for age, the adjusted odds ratios (odds ratio, 95% confidence intervals) for metabolic syndrome increased in proportion to the number of bad habits: two (1.72, 1.23-2.44), three (2.47, 1.73-3.56), and four (3.63, 2.03-6.34). Relative to subjects eating both vegetables and meat', the OR for 'meat' eaters was 1.66 (1.18-2.31). Compared with 'non-smokers and ever-smoker', the OR for 'current-smoker' was 1.62 (1.25-2.10). Compared with 'Healthy drinker', the OR for 'unhealthy drinker' was 1.38 (1.05-1.83). CONCLUSIONS: Poor lifestyle was associated with an increased likelihood of metabolic syndrome. These findings suggest that lifestyle-based occupational health interventions for young employees should include a specific diet, smoking cessation, and healthy-drinking programs.
Adult ; Blood Glucose/analysis ; Blood Pressure ; Body Weights and Measures ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; *Electronics ; *Health Behavior ; Humans ; Korea ; *Life Style ; Lipids/blood ; Male ; Men's Health ; Metabolic Syndrome X/*epidemiology ; Prevalence ; *Research

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to investigate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction in Korean male white collar workers. METHODS: A total of 700 male white collar workers who worked at one electronic institute and who participated in an annual surveillance program were recruited: 664(94.9%) workers were initially recruited and the data for 36 workers was excluded due to poor responses and a past history of liver disease. The questionnaire survey included the participants' general characteristics, the job-related factors, the health-related behaviors and job stress. Job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). We merged the job stress data with the individual liver function results by conducting annual surveillance. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjusting it for the confounding variables, including alcohol drinking and the body mass index (BMI), was used to evaluate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction. RESULTS: After adjustment for the confounding variables, the proportion of liver dysfunction cases was significantly higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. After conducting a stratified analysis with considering alcohol drinking and the BMI, the prevalence odds ratio of liver dysfunction was higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the level of job stress (and especially that assessed by the job demands and total score) is related to liver dysfunction. Thus, further preventive efforts and studies are needed to reduce job stress and address liver dysfunction.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires

OBJECTIVES: We wanted to investigate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction in Korean male white collar workers. METHODS: A total of 700 male white collar workers who worked at one electronic institute and who participated in an annual surveillance program were recruited: 664(94.9%) workers were initially recruited and the data for 36 workers was excluded due to poor responses and a past history of liver disease. The questionnaire survey included the participants' general characteristics, the job-related factors, the health-related behaviors and job stress. Job stress was assessed using the Korean Occupational Stress Scale-Short Form (KOSS-SF). We merged the job stress data with the individual liver function results by conducting annual surveillance. Multiple logistic regression analysis with adjusting it for the confounding variables, including alcohol drinking and the body mass index (BMI), was used to evaluate the relationship between job stress and liver dysfunction. RESULTS: After adjustment for the confounding variables, the proportion of liver dysfunction cases was significantly higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. After conducting a stratified analysis with considering alcohol drinking and the BMI, the prevalence odds ratio of liver dysfunction was higher in the groups with a high level of job stress, as assessed by the 'job demands and total score'. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this study suggest that the level of job stress (and especially that assessed by the job demands and total score) is related to liver dysfunction. Thus, further preventive efforts and studies are needed to reduce job stress and address liver dysfunction.
Alcohol Drinking ; Body Mass Index ; Confounding Factors (Epidemiology) ; Electronics ; Electrons ; Humans ; Liver ; Liver Diseases ; Logistic Models ; Male ; Odds Ratio ; Prevalence ; Questionnaires