This study examined the KHEI (Korean Healthy Eating Index) in elderly men and women according to their income level using the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2020∼2021) data. The income level was classified into lower, lower middle, upper middle, and upper groups according to the household income quartiles. The significant differences between the KHEI score and three subcategories (adequacy, moderation, energy balance) scores according to the income level showed the same pattern in the elderly total, men and women. Regarding the individual item, the score for the intake of meat, fish, eggs, legumes, total fruit, fresh fruit, total vegetables, and vegetables excluding kimchi and pickled vegetables were significantly lower in the lower income group in total elderly, men and women than in the other groups (P＜0.001). Among the items that showed differences between elderly men and women, the ‘regular breakfast’ score was lowest in the upper-income group of elderly men and the ‘mixed grains intake’ score was lowest in the lower-income group of elderly men. These results can be used to help develop nutrition policies and national nutritional interventions for the elderly population according to the income level.

This study examined the KHEI (Korean Healthy Eating Index) in elderly men and women according to their income level using the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2020∼2021) data. The income level was classified into lower, lower middle, upper middle, and upper groups according to the household income quartiles. The significant differences between the KHEI score and three subcategories (adequacy, moderation, energy balance) scores according to the income level showed the same pattern in the elderly total, men and women. Regarding the individual item, the score for the intake of meat, fish, eggs, legumes, total fruit, fresh fruit, total vegetables, and vegetables excluding kimchi and pickled vegetables were significantly lower in the lower income group in total elderly, men and women than in the other groups (P＜0.001). Among the items that showed differences between elderly men and women, the ‘regular breakfast’ score was lowest in the upper-income group of elderly men and the ‘mixed grains intake’ score was lowest in the lower-income group of elderly men. These results can be used to help develop nutrition policies and national nutritional interventions for the elderly population according to the income level.

This study examined the KHEI (Korean Healthy Eating Index) in elderly men and women according to their income level using the National Health and Nutrition Survey (2020∼2021) data. The income level was classified into lower, lower middle, upper middle, and upper groups according to the household income quartiles. The significant differences between the KHEI score and three subcategories (adequacy, moderation, energy balance) scores according to the income level showed the same pattern in the elderly total, men and women. Regarding the individual item, the score for the intake of meat, fish, eggs, legumes, total fruit, fresh fruit, total vegetables, and vegetables excluding kimchi and pickled vegetables were significantly lower in the lower income group in total elderly, men and women than in the other groups (P＜0.001). Among the items that showed differences between elderly men and women, the ‘regular breakfast’ score was lowest in the upper-income group of elderly men and the ‘mixed grains intake’ score was lowest in the lower-income group of elderly men. These results can be used to help develop nutrition policies and national nutritional interventions for the elderly population according to the income level.

Purpose: This study examined the nutritional status and Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) scores pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in elderly men and women living in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 1,747 rural elderly people aged 65 or older who participated in the nutritional survey of the 2018–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey. The nutrient intake was estimated from a 24-hour recall. Results: Following the COVID pandemic, the intake of fat, saturated fatty acids, and sodium increased in elderly men and women, whereas the intake of thiamine decreased. In elderly men, the intake of protein, niacin, and vitamin D decreased, but the sugar intake increased.In elderly women, the cholesterol intake increased. The KHEI score was significantly lower in rural elderly men and women after the pandemic than before (male: 62.60 ± 0.56 for the post-COVID-19 and 64.76 ± 0.75 for the pre-COVID-19, p < 0.05; female: 64.07 ± 0.80 for the post-COVID-19 and 64.47 ± 0.62 for the post-COVID-19, p < 0.001). Regarding the KHEI component, in men, the intake of meat, fish, and legumes, all sources of protein, decreased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. In women, the total food intake and the intake of breakfast decreased significantly after the pandemic. In the moderation components, men were unable to limit their total sugar and sodium intake, while women were unable to control their saturated fatty acids and sodium intake. Furthermore, considering the total KHEI score, both elderly men and women had decreased values in the moderation and adequacy components following COVID-19. Conclusion These results provide foundational data for elderly nutrition policies or educational programs targeting the elderly population in rural areas in similar pandemic situations in the future.

Purpose: This study examined the nutritional status and Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) scores pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in elderly men and women living in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 1,747 rural elderly people aged 65 or older who participated in the nutritional survey of the 2018–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey. The nutrient intake was estimated from a 24-hour recall. Results: Following the COVID pandemic, the intake of fat, saturated fatty acids, and sodium increased in elderly men and women, whereas the intake of thiamine decreased. In elderly men, the intake of protein, niacin, and vitamin D decreased, but the sugar intake increased.In elderly women, the cholesterol intake increased. The KHEI score was significantly lower in rural elderly men and women after the pandemic than before (male: 62.60 ± 0.56 for the post-COVID-19 and 64.76 ± 0.75 for the pre-COVID-19, p < 0.05; female: 64.07 ± 0.80 for the post-COVID-19 and 64.47 ± 0.62 for the post-COVID-19, p < 0.001). Regarding the KHEI component, in men, the intake of meat, fish, and legumes, all sources of protein, decreased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. In women, the total food intake and the intake of breakfast decreased significantly after the pandemic. In the moderation components, men were unable to limit their total sugar and sodium intake, while women were unable to control their saturated fatty acids and sodium intake. Furthermore, considering the total KHEI score, both elderly men and women had decreased values in the moderation and adequacy components following COVID-19. Conclusion These results provide foundational data for elderly nutrition policies or educational programs targeting the elderly population in rural areas in similar pandemic situations in the future.

Purpose: This study examined the nutritional status and Korean Healthy Eating Index (KHEI) scores pre- and post-coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) outbreak in elderly men and women living in rural areas. Methods: The participants were 1,747 rural elderly people aged 65 or older who participated in the nutritional survey of the 2018–2021 Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey. The nutrient intake was estimated from a 24-hour recall. Results: Following the COVID pandemic, the intake of fat, saturated fatty acids, and sodium increased in elderly men and women, whereas the intake of thiamine decreased. In elderly men, the intake of protein, niacin, and vitamin D decreased, but the sugar intake increased.In elderly women, the cholesterol intake increased. The KHEI score was significantly lower in rural elderly men and women after the pandemic than before (male: 62.60 ± 0.56 for the post-COVID-19 and 64.76 ± 0.75 for the pre-COVID-19, p < 0.05; female: 64.07 ± 0.80 for the post-COVID-19 and 64.47 ± 0.62 for the post-COVID-19, p < 0.001). Regarding the KHEI component, in men, the intake of meat, fish, and legumes, all sources of protein, decreased significantly after the COVID-19 pandemic. In women, the total food intake and the intake of breakfast decreased significantly after the pandemic. In the moderation components, men were unable to limit their total sugar and sodium intake, while women were unable to control their saturated fatty acids and sodium intake. Furthermore, considering the total KHEI score, both elderly men and women had decreased values in the moderation and adequacy components following COVID-19. Conclusion These results provide foundational data for elderly nutrition policies or educational programs targeting the elderly population in rural areas in similar pandemic situations in the future.

Background: and Purpose: The SoUth Korea study to PrEvent cognitive impaiRment and protect BRAIN health through lifestyle intervention (SUPERBRAIN) proved the feasibility of multidomain intervention for elderly people. One-quarter of the Korean population over 65 years of age has mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Digital health interventions may be costeffective and have fewer spatial constraints. We aim to examine the efficacy of a multidomain intervention through both face-to-face interactions and video communication platforms using a tablet personal computer (PC) application in MCI. Methods: Three hundred participants aged 60–85 years, with MCI and at least one modifiable dementia risk factor, will be recruited from 17 centers and randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to the multidomain intervention and the waiting-list control groups. Participants will receive the 24-week intervention through the tablet PC SUPERBRAIN application, which encompasses the following five elements: managing metabolic and vascular risk factors, cognitive training,physical exercise, nutritional guidance, and boosting motivation. Participants will attend the interventions at a facility every 1–2 weeks. They will also engage in one or two self-administered cognitive training sessions utilizing the tablet PC application at home each week. They will participate in twice or thrice weekly online exercise sessions at home via the ZOOM platform. The primary outcome will be the change in the total scale index score of the Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status from baseline to study end. Conclusions This study will inform the effectiveness of a comprehensive multidomain intervention utilizing digital technologies in MCI.

Background/Aims: The recent update on the Selecting Therapeutic Targets in Inflammatory Bowel Disease initiative has added normal growth in children as an intermediate target in Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis. We aimed to investigate factors associated with reaching midparental height (MPH) in patients diagnosed with inflammatory bowel disease in childhood and the adolescent period. Methods: This multicenter retrospective observational study included pediatric patients with inflammatory bowel disease that had reached adult height. Factors associated with reaching MPH were investigated by logistic regression analyses. Results: A total of 166 patients were included in this study (128 Crohn’s disease and 38 ulcerative colitis). Among them, 54.2% (90/166) had reached their MPH. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that height Z-score at diagnosis and MPH Z-score were independently associated with reaching MPH (odds ratio [OR], 8.45; 95% confidence interval [CI], 4.44 to 17.90;p<0.001 and OR, 0.11; 95% CI, 0.04 to 0.24; p<0.001, respectively). According to the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis, the optimal cutoff level of "height Z-score at diagnosis minus MPH Z-score" that was associated with reaching MPH was –0.01 with an area under the curve of 0.889 (95% CI [0.835 to 0.944], sensitivity 88.9%, specificity 84.2%, positive predictive value 87.0%, negative predictive value 86.5%, p<0.001). Conclusions Height Z-score at diagnosis and MPH Z-score were the only factors associated with reaching MPH. Efforts should be made to restore growth in pediatric patients who present with a negative “height Z-score at diagnosis minus MPH Z-score.”

This manuscript represents the official position of the Korean Society of Echocardiography on valvular heart diseases.This position paper focuses on the diagnosis and management of valvular heart diseases with referring to the guide‑ lines recently published by the American College of Cardiology/American Heart Association and the European Society of Cardiology. The committee sought to reflect national data on the topic of valvular heart diseases published to date through a systematic literature search based on validity and relevance. In the part II of this article, we intend to pre‑ sent recommendations for diagnosis and treatment of mitral valve disease and tricuspid valve disease.

Background: Hand hygiene is considered the simplest and most cost-effective method of infection prevention. Regular observation and feedback on hand hygiene compliance are key strategies for its enhancement. This study evaluated the effectiveness of hand hygiene surveillance, including direct observation and feedback, by comprehensively analyzing the reported hand hygiene compliance within the Korean National Healthcare-Associated Infections Surveillance System from 2019 to 2022. Methods: Participating medical institutions included general hospitals and hospitals with infection control departments that consented to participate. Hand hygiene surveillance was conducted using direct observation. Collected data, including healthcare workers, clinical areas, hand hygiene moments, and hand hygiene compliance, were recorded to calculate hand hygiene compliance rates. Additionally, the volume of alcohol-based hand sanitizers used per patient per day was investigated as an indirect indicator of hand hygiene compliance. The study was conducted from July 2019 to December 2022. Results: Hand hygiene compliance increased from 87.2% in Q3 2019 to 89.9% in 2022. Nurses and medical technologists showed the highest compliance rates, whereas doctors showed the lowest compliance rates. Intensive care units excelled in compliance, whereas emergency de partments lagged. Compliance was highest after patient contact and lowest when the patient’s surroundings were touched. Larger hospitals consumed more alcohol-based hand sanitizers than smaller hospitals did. Conclusion This study confirmed an improvement in hand hygiene compliance through sustained surveillance, indicating its contribution not only to preventing infection transfer within healthcare facilities but also to fostering a culture of hand hygiene in the country.