Objective: Recognizing discrimination as a significant public health risk during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, which coincided with increased drug use and heightened awareness of structural disparities in the United States, we investigated its association with the odds of drug use in a large and diverse cohort from the All of Us Research Program. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, data from 68,976 participants completed the COVID-19 participant experiences (COPE) survey. We applied logistic regression models with propensity score-based overlap weighting to examine associations between everyday discrimination and drug use. Self-reported everyday discrimination score and drug use were the primary exposure and outcome measures, respectively. Results: Of the 67,662 COPE respondents (mean [standard deviation] age, 57.5 [15.9] years; female sex at birth, 43,658 [64.5%]), we identified 15,493 participants with no reported discrimination and 15,493 participants with reported discrimination, after overlap weighting. The odds of drug use in those who reported discrimination was 1.38 (95% confidence interval, 1.32–1.43), with a dose-dependent association based on discrimination score. Participants who experienced discrimination had significantly higher odds of using drugs and this association was particularly pronounced in those under 40 years of age, those assigned female sex at birth, current smokers, individuals undergoing chemotherapy or immunotherapy, and those experiencing unemployment or COVID-19/flu-like symptoms. Conclusion This relationship was observed across various types of drugs and different reasons for discrimination, and it was particularly pronounced in specific subgroups. These findings provide critical evidence for developing targeted preventive interventions; however, further longitudinal studies for causality are warranted.

Objective: Suicide is a leading cause of death among adolescents, and despite the need to distinguish between suicidal consideration and suicide attempts, research focused on suicide attempts remains insufficient. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the influence of self-perceived weight on suicide attempts. Methods: This study utilized data from the Korea Youth Risk Behavior Web-based Survey for its analysis from 2005 to 2023, including a total of 1,156,728 participants. This study utilized various analytical methods to examine the influence of self-perceived weight on suicide attempts. We estimated weighted prevalence and used linear regression to assess temporal trend β coefficients and their differences (βdiff) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs), and survey-weighted logistic regression to estimate weighted odds ratios (wORs) and 95% CIs for the association between self-perceived weight and suicide attempts. Results: A comparison of suicide attempts based on self-perceived weight suggested that individuals who perceived themselves as overweight (weighted prevalence, 3.97% [95% CI, 3.89 to 4.04]) had the highest rate of suicide attempts, followed by those who perceived themselves as underweight (3.36% [95% CI, 3.28 to 3.44]), while those who perceived themselves as having a normal weight (3.20% [95% CI, 3.14 to 3.27]) had the lowest rate. Additionally, females (underweight: 4.47% [95% CI, 4.32 to 4.62]; normal weight: 3.91% [95% CI, 3.81 to 4.01]; overweight: 5.23% [5.11 to 5.35]) experienced more suicide attempts than males (underweight: 2.73% [95% CI, 2.65 to 2.82]; normal weight: 2.43% [95% CI, 2.35 to 2.51]; overweight: 2.60% [95% CI, 2.52 to 2.69]). Conclusion Findings from the present study suggest that self-perceived weight was associated with suicide attempts and interaction analyses indicated a potential sex-based difference in the impact of body image distortion. Therefore, this study suggests the introduction of programs and campaigns aimed at correcting distorted self-perceived weight.

OBJECTIVE: Despite the global decrease in influenza infections during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, seasonal influenza remains a significant health issue. South Korea, known for its robust pandemic response and high influenza vaccination rates, offers a unique context for examining changes in vaccination trends during the pandemic. Using nationally representative data, we aimed to understand the impact of the pandemic on influenza vaccination behavior over a 12-year period and to identify vulnerable groups. METHODS: We analyzed influenza vaccination rates in South Korea between 2011-2022, focusing on pandemic-related impacts. The data of 2,426,139 adults (≥ 19 years) from the Korea Community Health Survey were used to assess demographic and sociological factors influencing vaccination behaviors. RESULTS: We observed an increase in influenza vaccination rates during the pre-COVID-19 period from 2011-2013 (weighted prevalence: 46.68% [95% confidence interval ( CI): 46.55-46.82]) to 2017-2019 (weighted prevalence: 52.50% [95% CI: 52.38-52.63]). However, a significant decline was observed in 2022, the late-COVID-19 pandemic period (weighted prevalence: 55.78% [95% CI: 55.56-56.01]), compared with the mid-pandemic period in 2021 (weighted prevalence: 59.12% [95% CI: 58.91-59.32]), particularly among populations traditionally prioritized for influenza vaccination, including older adults (≥ 65 years) and patients with chronic diseases and low educational and income levels. CONCLUSION The influenza vaccination rate in South Korea was significantly affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, showing a notable decrease among vulnerable demographic groups. This suggests the need for targeted public health strategies to address vaccine hesitancy and improve vaccination rates, particularly among high-risk populations.
Humans ; Republic of Korea/epidemiology* ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Adult ; Middle Aged ; Influenza Vaccines/administration & dosage* ; Male ; Female ; Influenza, Human/epidemiology* ; Aged ; Vaccination/statistics & numerical data* ; Young Adult ; Pandemics ; SARS-CoV-2

Despite widespread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine use, research on the association between vaccines and cerebrovascular venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in diverse populations is limited. This study aimed to address this gap. Data from the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (1968–2024; total reports = 8,909,484) were used.Reporting odds ratios (RORs) and information components (ICs) were calculated to assess the association between each drug and CVST. In total, 851 cases were identified as vaccineassociated CVST, of which 527 (61.93%) occurred in female patients. Only Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccines had the highest ROR and IC value with CVST (ROR, 4.78; 95% confidence interval, 4.34–5.28; IC, 2.15). The risk of CVST increased with age, with the 45–64-years age group having an IC of 1.35, while the 65 years and older group had a higher IC of 2.08.The findings highlight the need for clinicians to recognize the potential risks of CVST and prioritize rigorous monitoring and research to ensure patient safety.

Background: Although excessive physical activity (PA) does not always confer additional health benefits, there is a paucity of studies that have quantitatively examined the doseresponse relationship between PA and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between the type 2 diabetes prevalence and intensity, frequency, and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) score of PA in a large population sample. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional analysis examining sociodemographic variables, PA habits, and type 2 diabetes prevalence in 2,428,448 participants included in the Korea Community Health Survey. The non-linear association between MET score and odds ratios (ORs) for type 2 diabetes prevalence was plotted using a weighted generalized additive model. Categorical analysis was used to examine the joint association of moderate-intensity PA (MPA) and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), and the influence of PA frequency. Results: MET score and diabetes prevalence revealed a non-linear association with the nadir at 1,028 MET-min/week, beyond which ORs increased with additional PA. Joint analysis of MPA and VPA showed the lowest OR of 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.75–0.84) for those engaging in 300–600 MET-min/week of MPA and > 600 MET-min/week of VPA concurrently, corresponding with World Health Organization recommendations. Additionally, both “weekend warriors” and “regularly active” individuals showed lower ORs compared to the inactive, although no significant difference was noted between the active groups. Conclusion In a large South Korean sample, higher PA is not always associated with a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes, as the association follows a non-linear pattern; differences existed across sociodemographic variables. Considering the joint association, an adequate combination of MPA and VPA is recommended. The frequency of PA does not significantly influence the type 2 diabetes prevalence.

Despite widespread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine use, research on the association between vaccines and cerebrovascular venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in diverse populations is limited. This study aimed to address this gap. Data from the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (1968–2024; total reports = 8,909,484) were used.Reporting odds ratios (RORs) and information components (ICs) were calculated to assess the association between each drug and CVST. In total, 851 cases were identified as vaccineassociated CVST, of which 527 (61.93%) occurred in female patients. Only Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccines had the highest ROR and IC value with CVST (ROR, 4.78; 95% confidence interval, 4.34–5.28; IC, 2.15). The risk of CVST increased with age, with the 45–64-years age group having an IC of 1.35, while the 65 years and older group had a higher IC of 2.08.The findings highlight the need for clinicians to recognize the potential risks of CVST and prioritize rigorous monitoring and research to ensure patient safety.

Background: Although excessive physical activity (PA) does not always confer additional health benefits, there is a paucity of studies that have quantitatively examined the doseresponse relationship between PA and type 2 diabetes. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between the type 2 diabetes prevalence and intensity, frequency, and metabolic equivalent of task (MET) score of PA in a large population sample. Methods: We conducted a nationwide cross-sectional analysis examining sociodemographic variables, PA habits, and type 2 diabetes prevalence in 2,428,448 participants included in the Korea Community Health Survey. The non-linear association between MET score and odds ratios (ORs) for type 2 diabetes prevalence was plotted using a weighted generalized additive model. Categorical analysis was used to examine the joint association of moderate-intensity PA (MPA) and vigorous-intensity PA (VPA), and the influence of PA frequency. Results: MET score and diabetes prevalence revealed a non-linear association with the nadir at 1,028 MET-min/week, beyond which ORs increased with additional PA. Joint analysis of MPA and VPA showed the lowest OR of 0.79 (95% confidence interval, 0.75–0.84) for those engaging in 300–600 MET-min/week of MPA and > 600 MET-min/week of VPA concurrently, corresponding with World Health Organization recommendations. Additionally, both “weekend warriors” and “regularly active” individuals showed lower ORs compared to the inactive, although no significant difference was noted between the active groups. Conclusion In a large South Korean sample, higher PA is not always associated with a lower prevalence of type 2 diabetes, as the association follows a non-linear pattern; differences existed across sociodemographic variables. Considering the joint association, an adequate combination of MPA and VPA is recommended. The frequency of PA does not significantly influence the type 2 diabetes prevalence.

Despite widespread coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccine use, research on the association between vaccines and cerebrovascular venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) in diverse populations is limited. This study aimed to address this gap. Data from the World Health Organization pharmacovigilance database (1968–2024; total reports = 8,909,484) were used.Reporting odds ratios (RORs) and information components (ICs) were calculated to assess the association between each drug and CVST. In total, 851 cases were identified as vaccineassociated CVST, of which 527 (61.93%) occurred in female patients. Only Ad5-vectored COVID-19 vaccines had the highest ROR and IC value with CVST (ROR, 4.78; 95% confidence interval, 4.34–5.28; IC, 2.15). The risk of CVST increased with age, with the 45–64-years age group having an IC of 1.35, while the 65 years and older group had a higher IC of 2.08.The findings highlight the need for clinicians to recognize the potential risks of CVST and prioritize rigorous monitoring and research to ensure patient safety.