Hand Grip Strength, Osteoporosis, and Quality of Life in Middle-Aged and Older Adults.

: Hand grip strength (HGS) and osteoporosis are known to be closely related to the health condition of the elderly, respectively. Comprehensive studies including adults over middle age were insufficient. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between HGS with osteoporosis and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in adults aged >40 years.

Association Between Premature Menopause and Cardiovascular Diseases and All-Cause Mortality in Korean Women.

Background: Mortality from cardiovascular diseases in Asian populations is considerable. Menopause is a risk-enhancing factor for cardiovascular disease, but it is unclear whether menopause is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality in Asian women.

Methods And Results: A total of 1 159 405 postmenopausal women, who had participated in the health examinations of the Korean National Health Insurance Service in 2009, were analyzed, and their reproductive histories were taken.

Association between a Marine Healing Program and Metabolic Syndrome Components and Mental Health Indicators.

: Metabolic syndrome is a growing health concern globally, and its prevalence continues to increase. This study investigated whether a marine healing program could improve metabolic syndrome indicators and mental health in adults with a metabolic syndrome and those at risk of developing it. : This study enrolled 30 participants who were assigned to either the experimental or control groups.

Obesity Fact Sheet in Korea, 2021: Trends in Obesity Prevalence and Obesity-Related Comorbidity Incidence Stratified by Age from 2009 to 2019.

Background: The global public health burden of obesity has increased with socio-economic development. The Korean Society for the Study of Obesity released the 2021 Obesity Fact Sheet to address trends in obesity prevalence and comorbid conditions by different age groups.

Methods: Individuals ≥20 years old who underwent a health checkup provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service between 2009 and 2019 were included.

Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Defined by Fatty Liver Index and Incidence of Heart Failure in the Korean Population: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Fatty liver index (FLI) is a simple and useful index that evaluates non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), particularly in large epidemiologic studies. Heart failure (HF) is becoming a burden to public health as the global trend toward an aging society continues. Thus, we investigated the effect of FLI on the incidence of HF using large cohort data from the Korean National Health Insurance health database.

Relation between Handgrip Strength and Quality of Life in Patients with Arthritis in Korea: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 2015-2018.

: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between handgrip strength (HGS) and quality of life (QOL) in patients diagnosed with osteoarthritis (OA) or rheumatoid arthritis (RA). : We enrolled 13,966 from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey from 2015 to 2018. All participants underwent the health-related QOL assessment using the European Quality of Life Scale-Five dimensions (EQ-5D) and measured the HGS.

Association between living alone and incident type 2 diabetes among middle-aged individuals in Korea: a nationwide cohort study.

We studied the association between living alone and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes in middle-aged individuals using nationwide cohort data from the Korean population. 11,686, 677 middle-aged individuals aged 40-64 years who underwent health examinations by the Korean National Health Insurance System between 2009 and 2012 were followed up until December 31, 2015. The hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analysis.

Anti-Obesity Effects of Extract in Zucker Fatty Rats and High-Fat Diet Sprague Dawley Rats through Upregulation of Uncoupling Protein 1.

Background: Obesity is a widespread disease and is caused mainly by excessive adipocyte differentiation and fat accumulation. Peroxisome proliferation-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) and CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) are major components for regulating adipocyte differentiation. Uncoupling protein 1 (UCP1) is a transmembrane protein that can convert white fat to brown adipose tissue.

Variabilities in Weight and Waist Circumference and Risk of Myocardial Infarction, Stroke, and Mortality: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Background: Evidence regarding the association between variabilities in obesity measures and health outcomes is limited. We aimed to examine the association between variabilities in obesity measures and cardiovascular outcomes and all-cause mortality.

Methods: We identified 4,244,460 individuals who underwent health examination conducted by the Korean National Health Insurance Service during 2012, with ≥3 anthropometric measurements between 2009 and 2012.

A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multi-Centered Clinical Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of L. Extract for Improvement of Liver Function.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has the potential to develop into hepatic steatosis and progress to terminal liver diseases such as cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. This human clinical study was aimed to demonstrate that SPB-201 (powdered-water extract of ) can improve liver function in subjects with non-alcoholic liver dysfunction at mild to moderate levels. A decrease of 271% in aspartate aminotransferase (AST) level and a significant decrease of 334% in alanine aminotransferase (ALT) level was observed in the test group as compared to the control group at the 4 weeks follow-up.

Body Weight Variability and the Risk of Cardiovascular Outcomes and Mortality in Patients With Type 2 Diabetes: A Nationwide Cohort Study.

Objective: Obesity and type 2 diabetes are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and mortality, and they commonly result in weight variabilities. We aimed to investigate the association between body weight variability and risk of major cardiovascular outcomes and mortality in individuals with type 2 diabetes using large-scale, nationwide cohort data on the Korean population.

Research Design And Methods: We enrolled 624,237 individuals with type 2 diabetes who underwent health examinations provided by the Korean National Health Insurance System between 2009 and 2010, with three or more body weight measurements within 5 years since enrollment and followed up until the end of 2017.

Associations between Living Alone and Smoking and Alcohol Consumption in Korean Adults.

Background: Recently, single-person households have increased in Korea and this trend may have potential public health implications and affect various health behaviors. This study investigated the associations between living alone and health behaviors such as smoking and alcohol consumption among Korean adults.

Methods: We used data from the 6th Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey between 2013 and 2015 and a total of 17,088 adults were included.

Poor Control of Blood Glucose, Lifestyle, and Cardiometabolic Parameters in Younger Adult Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

This study investigated the awareness, treatment, and control of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), lifestyle factors, and cardiometabolic parameters according to age groups among patients with T2DM. Data of 1507 patients with T2DM aged ≥35 years in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey VI (2013-2015) were analyzed. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to compare the awareness, treatment, and control rate of T2DM and lifestyle and cardiometabolic parameters according to age groups.

Obesity, abdominal obesity and subsequent risk of kidney cancer: a cohort study of 23.3 million East Asians.

Background: Limited evidence exists regarding associations between obesity and kidney cancer among Asians. We examined the associations between obesity measures and risk of kidney cancer.

Methods: We included 23,313,046 adults who underwent health examinations provided by the Korean National Health Insurance Service 2009-2012 and performed multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression analyses.

Chronic renal dysfunction, proteinuria, and risk of Parkinson's disease in the elderly.

Background: The roles of chronic kidney disease and proteinuria in the development of Parkinson's disease have not been widely studied. The objective of this study was to examine the associations of chronic renal dysfunction and proteinuria with the risk of PD in older adults using cohort data of the whole South Korean population.

Methods: We included 3,580,435 individuals aged ≥65 years who had undergone health checkups provided by the National Health Insurance Service of South Korea between 2009 and 2012 and were followed until 2015.

Associations between Breastfeeding and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Glycemic Control in Parous Women: A Nationwide, Population-Based Study.

We investigated associations between breastfeeding duration and number of children breastfed and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and glycemic control among parous women. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of data for 9,960 parous women from the Korea National Health and Nutritional Examination Survey (2010 to 2013). Having ever breastfed was inversely associated with prevalent T2DM (adjusted odds ratio [OR], 0.

Metabolic syndrome and risk of Parkinson disease: A nationwide cohort study.

Background: The association of metabolic syndrome (MetS) with the development of Parkinson disease (PD) is currently unclear. We sought to determine whether MetS and its components are associated with the risk of incident PD using large-scale cohort data for the whole South Korean population.

Methods And Findings: Health checkup data of 17,163,560 individuals aged ≥40 years provided by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) of South Korea between January 1, 2009, and December 31, 2012, were included, and participants were followed up until December 31, 2015.

Associations of mental health and sleep duration with menstrual cycle irregularity: a population-based study.

This study aimed to examine whether the characteristics of mental health and sleep duration, alone or in combination, are associated with menstrual cycle irregularity. This population-based, cross-sectional study analyzed the data from 4445 women aged 19-49 years, who participated in the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012. A structured questionnaire was used to assess mental health characteristics, sleep duration, and menstrual cycle irregularity.

Impact of body mass index and body weight variabilities on mortality: a nationwide cohort study.

Background/objectives: There is limited information regarding the impact of body mass index (BMI) and body weight (BWt) variabilities on mortality. This study aimed to investigate the association between BMI, BWt variabilities and subsequent mortality in the Korean population.

Subjects/methods: This study used a representative sample cohort enrolled in the national health examination program conducted by the Korean National Health Insurance Service, and 125,391 individuals were included and followed up until 2013 (mean follow-up period = 84 months).

Fast Eating Speed Increases the Risk of Endoscopic Erosive Gastritis in Korean Adults.

Background: Fast eating or overeating can induce gastrointestinal diseases such as gastritis. However, the association between gastritis and speed of eating is unclear. The aim of this study was to determine whether eating speed is associated with increased risk of endoscopic erosive gastritis (EEG).