Background: Although Korea ranks first in the suicide rate of elderly individuals, there is limited research on those who attempt suicide, with preventive measures largely based on population-based studies. We compared the demographic and clinical characteristics of elderly individuals who attempted suicide with those of younger adults who visited the emergency department after suicide attempts and identified the factors associated with lethality in the former group. Methods: Individuals who visited the emergency department after a suicide attempt from April 1, 2017, to January 31, 2020, were included. Participants were classified into two groups according to age (elderly, ≥65 years; adult, 18–64 years). Among the 779 adult patients, 123 were elderly. We conducted a chi-square test to compare the demographic and clinical features between these groups and a logistic regression analysis to identify the risk factors for lethality in the elderly group. Results: Most elderly participants were men, with no prior psychiatric history or suicide attempts, and had a higher prevalence of underlying medical conditions and attributed their attempts to physical illnesses. Being sober and planning suicide occurred more frequently in this group. In the elderly group, factors that increased the mortality rate were biological male sex (p<0.05), being accompanied by family members (p<0.05), and poisoning as a suicide method (p<0.01). Conclusion Suicide attempts in elderly individuals have different characteristics from those in younger adults and are associated with physical illness. Suicides in the former group are unpredictable, deliberate, and fatal. Therefore, tailored prevention and intervention strategies addressing the characteristics of those who are elderly and attempt suicide are required.

This study evaluated the nutrient adequacy ratio (NAR) and depression based on the sleep duration of adult women using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016 and 2018. A total of 4,507 subjects were divided into two groups: sleep hours＜7 (lack of sleep, LS) and 7≤ sleep hours (normal sleep, NS). For a more detailed analysis, the subjects were further divided into normal sleep with no depression (NSND) and lack of sleep with depression (LSWD) groups. When compared with NS group, the nutrient intake of the LS group was observed to be higher in carbohydrates (P＜0.05) and thiamine (P＜0.01), but had a significantly lower mean nutrient adequacy ratio (P＜0.05). Also, the LS group showed a higher frequency of early menopause (P＜0.001) and depression (P＜0.05) than the NS group. In the analysis of anthropometry and blood parameters of the subjects based on their sleep duration, the LS group showed a lower body mass index (BMI, P＜0.05), lower blood creatinine (P＜0.01), glycated hemoglobin (P＜0.05), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (P＜0.01) levels adjusted by age and menopause than the NS group. When compared to the NSND group, the LSWD group had a lower intake of cholesterol (P＜0.05), vitamin A (P＜0.05), vitamin C (P＜0.05), and folic acid (P＜0.05). There was no variation in the menopausal status, NAR, and mean nutrient adequacy ratio between the NSND and LSWD groups. However, there were differences in total blood cholesterol (P＜0.05) and depression based on sleep duration. Apart from nutritional status, differences in BMI and blood parameters were observed based on sleep duration.

Background: and Purpose: Growing evidence has shown that cognitive interventions can mitigate cognitive decline in patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). However, most previous cognitive interventions have been group-based programs. Due to their intrinsic limitations, group-based programs are not widely used in clinical practice. Therefore, we have developed a tablet-based cognitive intervention program. This preliminary study investigated the feasibility and effects of a 12-week structured tablet-based program on cognitive function in patients with MCI. Methods: We performed a single-arm study on 24 patients with MCI. The participants underwent a tablet-based cognitive intervention program 5 times a week over a 12-week period. The primary outcome was changes in cognitive function, measured using the Korean version of the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s Disease Assessment Packet (CERAD-K). Outcomes were evaluated at baseline, within two weeks of the last program (post-intervention), and at the six-month follow-up session. Results: The completion rate of the tablet-based program was 83.3% in patients with MCI.The program improved cognitive function based on the CERAD-K total score (p=0.026), which was maintained for at least three months (p=0.004). There was also an improvement in the depression scale score (p=0.002), which persisted for three months (p=0.027). Conclusions Our 12-week structured tablet-based program is feasible for patients with MCI.Furthermore, although further studies with a double-arm design are required, the program appears to be an effective strategy to prevent cognitive decline in patients with MCI.

Objective: : The aim of this study was to verify the equivalence and effectiveness of the tablet-administered Korean Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (K-RBANS) for the prevention and early detection of dementia. Methods: : Data from 88 psychiatry and neurology patient samples were examined to evaluate the equivalence between tablet and paper administrations of the K-RBANS using a non-randomly equivalent group design. We calculated the prediction scores of the tablet-administered K-RBANS based on demographics and covariate-test scores for focal tests using norm samples and tested format effects. In addition, we compared the receiver operating characteristic curves to confirm the effectiveness of the K-RBANS for preventing and detecting dementia. Results: : In the analysis of raw scores, line orientation showed a significant difference (t=-2.94, p<0.001), and subtests showed small to large effect sizes (0.04–0.86) between paper- and tablet-administered K-RBANS. To investigate the format effect, we compared the predicted scaled scores of the tablet sample to the scaled scores of the norm sample. Consequently, a small effect size (d≤0.20) was observed in most of the subtests, except word list and story recall, which showed a medium effect size (d=0.21), while picture naming and subtests of delayed memory showed significant differences in the one-sample t-test. In addition, the area under the curve of the total scale index (TSI) (0.827; 95% confidence interval, 0.738–0.916) was higher than that of the five indices, ranging from 0.688 to 0.820. The sensitivity and specificity of TSI were 80% and 76%, respectively. Conclusion : The overall results of this study suggest that the tablet-administered K-RBANS showed significant equivalence to the norm sample, although some subtests showed format effects, and it may be used as a valid tool for the brief screening of patients with neuropsychological disorders in Korea.

This study evaluated the correlation between serum uric acid level and the nutrients adequacy ratio (NAR) using data from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2016∼2019. This is a cross-sectional study in which 6,579 Korean male adults were divided into quartiles according to their uric acid levels. All analyses were performed with adjusted age. Uric acid decreased as the age increased from the age group 19∼29 years to 30∼49 years and then to 50∼64 years. Interquartile results of serum uric acid levels showed that increases in the serum uric acid levels were associated with decreases in LDL-cholesterol (P＜0.01), triglycerides (P＜0.001), body weight (P＜0.001), waist circumference (P＜0.001), body mass index (P＜0.001), systolic blood pressure (SBP) (P＜0.001), diastolic blood pressure (DBP) (P＜0.001). However, uric acid levels decreased with an increase in HDL cholesterol (P＜0.001). The analysis of the NARs according to the quartiles of serum uric acid levels in men showed that an increase in serum uric acid levels was associated with a decrease in the NAR levels of dietary fiber (P＜0.001), calcium (P＜0.001), and folic acid (P＜0.001).

Purpose: The concept of hidden hearing loss can explain the discrepancy between a listener’s perception of hearing ability and hearing evaluation using pure tone audiograms. This study investigated the utility of the suprathreshold auditory brainstem response (ABR) for the evaluation of hidden hearing loss in noise-exposed ear with normal audiograms. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 patients (24 ears) with normal auditory thresholds and normal distortion product otoacoustic emissions were included in a retrospective analysis of medical records of 80 patients presenting with histories of acute noise exposure. The control group included 12 subjects (24 ears) with normal audiograms and no history of noise exposure. Pure tone audiometry and suprathreshold ABR testing at 90 dB peSPL were performed. The amplitudes and latencies of ABR waves I and V were compared between the noise-exposed and control groups. Results: We found no significant difference in the wave I or V amplitude, or the wave I/V ratio, between the two groups. The latencies of ABR wave I, V, and I–V interpeak interval were compared, and no significant intergroup difference was observed. Conclusion The results suggest that either hidden hearing loss may not be significant in this cohort of patients with acute noise exposure history, or the possible damage by noise exposure is not reflected in the ABRs. Further studies are needed to inquire about the role of ABR in identification of hidden hearing loss.

There is a dearth of Korean studies on dehydration, one of the health risks for adult women. This study analyzed the subjects of the 2016∼2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) to investigate the relationship between nutrient intake ratios and sedentary time in dehydrated women. Body mass index and waist circumference in the dehydrated group (DG) were significantly higher than the normal group (NG). Intake of other liquids in the DG was significantly higher than in the NG, but total water intake in the DG was significantly lower than in the NG. Compared to the 600 sedentary minutes or more per day group, the odds ratio of dehydration was significantly higher in the less than 300 sedentary minutes per day group (1.871 [95% CI: 1.579∼2.215], P＜0.001). Compared to the drinking over 6.0 cups of water per day group, the odds ratio of dehydration was significantly higher in the 3 cups or fewer per day (OR [95% CI] is 1.198 times [1.019 to 1.408], P＜0.05), and 6.0 cups or fewer group (OR [95% CI] is 1.162 times [1.018 to 1.326], P＜0.05). The results of this study showed that the total water intake was relatively lower in the ≥600 sedentary minutes per day group compared to the 300 sedentary minutes per day group, making them more vulnerable to dehydration. The nutrient intake ratios were higher in the dehydration group than in the normal group. In conclusion, emphasis should be placed on the importance of hydration and nutrition education for adult women in the workplace.

Purpose: The concept of hidden hearing loss can explain the discrepancy between a listener’s perception of hearing ability and hearing evaluation using pure tone audiograms. This study investigated the utility of the suprathreshold auditory brainstem response (ABR) for the evaluation of hidden hearing loss in noise-exposed ear with normal audiograms. Materials and Methods: A total of 15 patients (24 ears) with normal auditory thresholds and normal distortion product otoacoustic emissions were included in a retrospective analysis of medical records of 80 patients presenting with histories of acute noise exposure. The control group included 12 subjects (24 ears) with normal audiograms and no history of noise exposure. Pure tone audiometry and suprathreshold ABR testing at 90 dB peSPL were performed. The amplitudes and latencies of ABR waves I and V were compared between the noise-exposed and control groups. Results: We found no significant difference in the wave I or V amplitude, or the wave I/V ratio, between the two groups. The latencies of ABR wave I, V, and I–V interpeak interval were compared, and no significant intergroup difference was observed. Conclusion The results suggest that either hidden hearing loss may not be significant in this cohort of patients with acute noise exposure history, or the possible damage by noise exposure is not reflected in the ABRs. Further studies are needed to inquire about the role of ABR in identification of hidden hearing loss.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The numbers of women, young doctors, and foreigners in the medical field have increased continuously. On the other hand, the environment for these minority groups has not improved, particularly in Eastern countries. The authors aimed to increase the awareness of the importance of a Diversity Committee in the Korean Society of Gastroenterology (KSG) by an analysis of a survey.METHODS: From January to February in 2019, a survey was conducted on physicians and a few medical students by googling. The questionnaire consisted of the target doctors of the Diversity Committee, purpose, specific activities, and expected effects of Diversity Committee to the KSG. The participants requested to respond with yes/no or a 5-point scale.RESULTS: A total of 202 participants completed the questionnaire, and 93.5% (189/202) were medical specialists. The proportion of males was 61.9% (125/202), and 39.6% (80/202) and 36.1% (73/202) participants were in their 30s and 40s, respectively. A total of 174 participants (86.1%) agreed with the necessity of a Diversity Committee, and 180 participants (89.1%) answered this committee would help advance the KSG with significant differences between males and females (80.8% vs. 94.8%, p=0.006; 84.8% vs. 96.1%, p=0.011). Similarly, there were significant differences in the responses according to sex in most questions.CONCLUSIONS: Most participants of the survey expected a contribution of the Diversity Committee to the advancement of the KSG. On the other hand, in most of the priorities of the target, purpose, specific activities, and expected effects of the Diversity Committee, there was a difference in the perceptions between males and females. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to reduce the differences within the KSG.
Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Gastroenterology ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups ; Specialization ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires

BACKGROUND/AIMS: The numbers of women, young doctors, and foreigners in the medical field have increased continuously. On the other hand, the environment for these minority groups has not improved, particularly in Eastern countries. The authors aimed to increase the awareness of the importance of a Diversity Committee in the Korean Society of Gastroenterology (KSG) by an analysis of a survey. METHODS: From January to February in 2019, a survey was conducted on physicians and a few medical students by googling. The questionnaire consisted of the target doctors of the Diversity Committee, purpose, specific activities, and expected effects of Diversity Committee to the KSG. The participants requested to respond with yes/no or a 5-point scale. RESULTS: A total of 202 participants completed the questionnaire, and 93.5% (189/202) were medical specialists. The proportion of males was 61.9% (125/202), and 39.6% (80/202) and 36.1% (73/202) participants were in their 30s and 40s, respectively. A total of 174 participants (86.1%) agreed with the necessity of a Diversity Committee, and 180 participants (89.1%) answered this committee would help advance the KSG with significant differences between males and females (80.8% vs. 94.8%, p=0.006; 84.8% vs. 96.1%, p=0.011). Similarly, there were significant differences in the responses according to sex in most questions. CONCLUSIONS: Most participants of the survey expected a contribution of the Diversity Committee to the advancement of the KSG. On the other hand, in most of the priorities of the target, purpose, specific activities, and expected effects of the Diversity Committee, there was a difference in the perceptions between males and females. Therefore, continuous efforts are needed to reduce the differences within the KSG.
Emigrants and Immigrants ; Female ; Gastroenterology ; Hand ; Humans ; Male ; Minority Groups ; Specialization ; Students, Medical ; Surveys and Questionnaires