Risk Factors Influencing the Occurrence and Severity of Symptomatic Dry Eye Syndrome: A Cross-sectional Study.

: We aimed to investigate the prevalence and risk factors of dry eye syndrome (DES) among a population-based cohort study.: This cross-sectional study was conducted on 475 subjects (184 men and 291 women) enrolled in the Study Group for Environmental Eye Disease at July 2013. Using the ocular surface disease index (OSDI), we measured the DES severity and defined DES as OSDI score ≥13.

Cohort Profile: The Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center Cohort in Korea.

Mortalities from cardiovascular disease in Korea have decreased markedly over the past three decades. The major cardiovascular and metabolic risk factors, however, remain prevalent, and their burden on health is large. The Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) planned a cohort study in order to identify novel risk factors and to develop evidence-based prevention strategies of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases.

Association between Changes in Anthropometric Indices and in Fasting Insulin Levels among Healthy Korean Adolescents: The JS High School Study.

Background: This study investigated the association between changes in anthropometric indices and fasting insulin levels among healthy adolescents and whether the association differed by baseline obesity status.

Methods: This analysis was based on data collected for the JS High School study; 884 healthy adolescents aged 15 to 16 years followed up for 24 to 30 months were included. Changes in anthropometric indices and fasting insulin levels were computed as the difference between baseline and follow-up values.

Association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol level and pulmonary function in healthy Korean adolescents: the JS high school study.

Background: Accumulating evidence suggests that high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol is associated with pulmonary function and pulmonary disorders. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between HDL cholesterol and pulmonary function in healthy adolescents.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was based on data collected for the JS High School study.

Cardiovascular and Metabolic Diseases Etiology Research Center (CMERC) cohort: study protocol and results of the first 3 years of enrollment.

Although the etiologies of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are widely understood, the goal of finding a globally effective solution for preventing CVD is unrealistic. Therefore, we aimed to conduct a community-based prospective study on the prevention and management of CVD in Korean adults. This study was designed to recruit 8,000 healthy adults over the course of 5 years.

Sleep duration and chronic kidney disease: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)-Kangwha study.

Background/aims: Sleep duration affects health in various ways. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations of sleep duration with chronic kidney disease (CKD) in a Korean adult population.

Methods: This cross-sectional analysis was conducted for total of 1,360 participants who completed baseline health examinations for the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study-Kangwha study in 2010 to 2011.

Secondhand Smoke Exposure and Depressive Symptoms among Korean Adolescents: JS High School Study.

Introduction: Increasing evidence suggests that secondhand smoke exposure (SHSE) may affect not only physical health, but also mental health. Therefore, we evaluated the association between SHSE and depressive symptoms among Korean adolescents.

Methods: The JS High School Study enrolled 1071 high school freshmen from a rural community of South Korea.

Comparison of Formulas for Calculating Low-density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in General Population and High-risk Patients with Cardiovascular Disease.

Background And Objectives: Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), an established cardiovascular risk factor, can be generally determined by calculation from total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, and triglyceride concentrations. The aim of this study was to compare LDL-C estimations using various formulas with directly measured LDL-C in a community-based group and hospital-based group among the Korean population.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 1498 participants were classified into four groups according to triglyceride concentrations as follows: <100, 100-199, 200-299, and ≥300 mg/dL.

Inter-Arm Difference in Brachial Blood Pressure in the General Population of Koreans.

Background And Objectives: We investigated the inter-arm difference in blood pressure of the general Korean population to identify associated factors.

Subjects And Methods: A total of 806 participants aged 30 to 64 years without history of major cardiovascular disease were analyzed in this cross-sectional study. They participated in the Cardiovascular and Metabolic Disease Etiology Research Center cohort study that began in 2013.

Association between Obesity Indices and Insulin Resistance among Healthy Korean Adolescents: The JS High School Study.

Objective: To investigate whether indices of obesity are associated with insulin resistance in Korean adolescents.

Methods: This study was conducted as a cross-sectional analysis of 817 healthy adolescents aged 15-16 years without diabetes. Percentiles group of weight-for-height, body mass index (BMI)-for-age, waist circumference (WC)-for-age, and skin fold thickness (SFT)-for-age were based on the 2007 Korean National Growth Charts.

Cohort Profile: The JS High School study (JSHS): a cohort study of Korean adolescents.

Major aetiologies of atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases begin in childhood and atherosclerotic vascular abnormalities can be observed among children and adolescents. Adolescent cohort studies have important advantages because they can observe earlier changes in vascular structure and function. The purpose of the JS High School study (JSHS) is to identify biomarkers predicting or indicating early structural and functional vascular change in adolescents.

Effects of age, sex, and menopausal status on blood cholesterol profile in the korean population.

Background And Objectives: To investigate age-specific and sex-specific distributions of blood cholesterol in the general Korean population.

Subjects And Methods: We analyzed data for 8284 men and 9246 women aged ≥10 years who participated in the fifth (2010-2012) Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. Age-specific means, medians, and selected percentiles were calculated for men, premenopausal women, and postmenopausal women.

Serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D and insulin resistance in apparently healthy adolescents.

Purpose: Vitamin D deficiency is a common condition that is associated with diabetes and insulin resistance. However, the association between vitamin D and insulin resistance has not been fully studied, especially in the general adolescent population. Therefore, we assessed the association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level and insulin resistance among apparently healthy Korean adolescents.

Association between serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D level and insulin resistance in a rural population.

Purpose: A low serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level in the blood has been correlated with an increased risk of diabetes mellitus; however, the association between serum 25(OH)D level and insulin resistance has not been established in a Korean rural population. The aim of this study was to investigate the independent association between serum 25(OH)D level and insulin resistance in rural Korean adults.

Materials And Methods: This study used data from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study-Kangwha Study.

The Korean urban rural elderly cohort study: study design and protocol.

Background: Korea is one of the fastest aging countries and is expected to become a super-aged society within 12 years. The Korean Urban Rural Elderly (KURE) study was developed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics and establish the prevention and management of major disorders of the elderly in Korea.

Methods/design: The KURE study is a community-based prospective cohort study on health, aging, and common geriatric disorders of Korean elderly persons aged at least 65 years.

Association between depressive symptoms and bone stiffness index in young adults: the Kangwha study.

Objective: Young adulthood is an important period for both bone and mental health. This study investigated the association between depressive symptoms and bone density in apparently healthy Korean men and women aged 29-32 years.

Methods: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of data from 123 men and 133 women who completed follow-up examinations of the Kangwha study in 2010-2011.

Factors Associated with a Low-sodium Diet: The Fourth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Objectives: The low-sodium diet is a known preventive factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Factors associated with low-sodium diets should be identified to reduce sodium intake effectively. This study was conducted to identify factors correlated with a low-sodium diet.

Association between serum uric acid level and metabolic syndrome.

Objectives: Serum uric acid levels have been reported to be associated with a variety of cardiovascular conditions. However, the direct association between uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome remains controversial. Thus, we evaluated the association of serum uric acid levels and metabolic syndrome in a community-based cohort study in Korea.

The association between serum albumin levels and metabolic syndrome in a rural population of Korea.

Objectives: A positive association between serum albumin levels and metabolic syndrome has been reported in observation studies, but it has not been established in the Korean population. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the association between serum albumin levels and the presence of metabolic syndrome among a sample of apparently healthy Korean adults.

Methods: This cross-sectional study analyzed data of 3189 community-dwelling people (1189 men and 2000 women) who were aged 40 to 87 years and were living in a rural area in Korea.

Prevalence of Dyslipidemia among Korean Adults: Korea National Health and Nutrition Survey 1998-2005.

Background: Dyslipidemia is a disorder of lipid metabolism, including elevated total cholesterol, elevated triglyceride, elevated low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and decreased high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). The objective of this study was to investigate recent changes in the prevalence of dyslipidemia and also the rates of awareness, treatment, and control of dyslipidemia among Korean adults.

Methods: Dyslipidemia is defined according to the National Cholesterol Education Program-Adult Treatment Panel III as total cholesterol ≥240 mg/dL, LDL-C ≥160 mg/dL, HDL-C <40 mg/dL, and triglyceride ≥200 mg/dL.

Association between body mass index and asthma symptoms among Korean children: a nation-wide study.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between body mass index (BMI) and the prevalence of wheeze using nation-wide cross-sectional study in Korean children. Total 50,200 children from 427 elementary schools were randomly selected according to residential areas (metropolitan, provincial, rural, and industrial areas) by the cluster sampling method. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) questionnaires were used to measure the prevalence of wheeze.

Familial concordance of metabolic syndrome in Korean population--Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2005.

Aims: To investigate the familial concordance of metabolic syndrome and its components in a nationally representative survey in Korean.

Methods: We used data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationwide survey examining the general health and nutritional status of the Korean people. We enrolled 1641 married couples and 1527 parents-1342 offspring.

Gender differences in the association between smoking and dyslipidemia: 2005 Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Background: Smoking has been reported to be associated with abnormal lipid metabolism. However, it remains uncertain whether adverse metabolic effects of smoking on dyslipidemia differ with gender. The objective of this study was to investigate the association between smoking and dyslipidemia in men and women.

[Association between hypertension and pulmonary function in rural adults in Korea].

Objectives: Whilst hypertension exerts a negative effect on several organs there have been few studies regarding its effect on pulmonary function. The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between hypertension and pulmonary function in rural Korean adults.

Methods: In 2006, 2534 people were recruited, aged 40 to 70, in Kangwha County.