Prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: A cross-sectional study.

Objective: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are both chronic inflammatory diseases; the prevalence of COPD in RA patients is known to be high. However, the prevalence of both RA and COPD differs according to sex; the relationship between RA and COPD may also vary according to sex. Therefore, we investigated the prevalence of COPD and its association in patients with RA in Korea by sex.

The negative impact of long working hours on mental health in young Korean workers.

Long working hours are known to have a negative effect on health. However, there is no clear evidence for a direct link between mental health and long working hours in the young adult populations. Therefore, we aimed to determine whether long working hours are associated with mental health in young adult workers.

Clinical Findings of Ankylosing Spondylitis With and Without Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA)-B27 and HLA-B51.

Introduction: Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) and Behçet's disease are known to be associated with the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B27 and HLA-B51 genes, respectively. However, many of their clinical findings-including articular and extra-articular symptoms-are similar, making diagnosis a challenge in the early stage of the disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in clinical findings of AS patients with and without the HLA-B27 gene.

Relationship between coffee consumption and serum uric acid level in the general Korean population: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Objective: Coffee is one of the world's most consumed beverages, and its consumption is increasing. Serum uric acid levels are affected by dietary factors, and increased levels can cause a variety of diseases, including gout. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between coffee consumption and serum uric acid levels in the general Korean population.

Association between interleukin-1, interleukin-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha polymorphisms and juvenile idiopathic arthritis: a meta-analysis.

Introduction: In juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), interleukin (IL)-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) are associated with development and progression of JIA. We investigated whether IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α polymorphisms were associated with susceptibility to JIA.

Evidence Acquisition: A meta-analysis was conducted on the associations between IL-1α-899 C/T, IL-1β-511 C/T, IL-6-174 G/C, and TNF-α-308 G/A and -238 G/A polymorphisms, and JIA (PubMed and Embase).

Relationship of rheumatoid arthritis and coronary artery disease in the Korean population: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

Background: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is known to be associated with coronary artery diseases (CAD). Previous studies of the association between RA and CAD were reported mainly in non-Asian groups. We aimed to examine the prevalence of RA and the relationship between RA and CAD in South Korea.

Long Working Hours and Poor Self-Rated Health in the Young Working Population in Korea.

: This cross-sectional study investigated the association between long working hours and prevalence of poor self-rated health (SRH) in Korean young workers using data from the 6th Korea Youth Panel Survey 2007. A total of 3317 young wage workers were included. Weekly working hours were divided into four groups (36 to 40 hours, 41 to 52 hours, 53 to 60 hours, and more than 60 hours per week).

Association between rs1800795 polymorphisms in the interleukin-6 gene and vasculitis: A meta-analysis.

Interleukin (IL)-6 is associated with the development and progression of vasculitis, and inhibitors of this cytokine are used to treat this disease. Polymorphisms of the promoter region of are associated with the production and expression of IL-6. The aim of this study was to perform a meta-analysis of eligible studies to derive a precise estimate of the association between polymorphisms and susceptibility to vasculitis.

Association between occupational clusters and allergic rhinitis in the Korean population: analysis of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey data.

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the association between occupational clusters and allergic rhinitis (AR).

Methods: The study was based on data from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES: 2007-2015). This study included 46,965 individuals: 20,491 men and 26,474 women.

The association between osteoarthritis and sleep duration in Koreans: a nationwide cross-sectional observational study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) causes chronic pain, physical disability, and mental health deterioration and reduces the quality of life of patients. Sleep is an important factor in the recovery, and adequate sleep is important for quality of life. Several features of patients with OA can affect sleep time, and sleep also affects OA.

The relationship between occupational noise and vibration exposure and headache/eyestrain, based on the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (KWCS).

Introduction: The individual and combined effect of occupational noise and vibration exposures, on workers' health has not been thoroughly investigated. In order to find better ways to prevent and manage workers' headache, this study aimed to investigate the effects of occupational noise and vibration exposure on headache/eyestrain.

Methods: We used data from the fourth Korean Working Condition Survey (2014).

The Association between Osteoarthritis and Occupational Clusters in the Korean Population: A Nationwide Study.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is a considerable health problem worldwide. It is known to be associated with certain occupational risk factors. We examined the prevalence rate of OA by occupational cluster.

The association between subjective socioeconomic status and health inequity in victims of occupational accidents in Korea.

Objectives: We aimed to investigate the health inequity of victims of occupational accidents through the association between socioeconomic status and unmet healthcare need.

Methods: Data from the first and second Panel Study of Workers' Compensation Insurance were used, which included 1,803 participants. The odds ratio and 95% confidence intervals for the unmet healthcare needs of participants with a lower socioeconomic status and other socioeconomic statuses were investigated using multivariate regression analysis.

Metabolic outcomes of workers according to the International Standard Classification of Occupations in Korea.

Background: Occupation influences the risk for developing chronic metabolic diseases.

Methods: We compared the prevalence of MetS by International Standard Classification of Occupations using the nationally representative data in Korea (KNHANES). We enrolled 16,763 workers (9,175 males; 7,588 females) who had measurements for the National Cholesterol Education Program criteria III and other variables.

Hospital Qualities Related to Return to Work from Occupational Injury after Controlling for Injury Severity as Well as Occupational Characteristics.

We examined associations between hospital quality in the workers' compensation system and injured patients' return to work after controlling for injury severity, occupational factors, and demographic factors. Return to work data of injured workers were constructed from 2 datasets: 23,392 patients injured in 2009-2011 from the Korea Workers' Compensation & Welfare Service and return to work data from Korea Employment Information Services. After de-identifying the data, quality scores were matched for each hospital that cared for injured patients.

The association between low blood lead levels and the prevalence of prehypertension among nonhypertensive adults in Korea.

Objectives: Low-level lead exposure has been associated with increases in blood pressure (BP) and impairment of the cardiovascular system. Prehypertension is not categorized as a disease currently; however, individuals with untreated prehypertension are known to be at increased risk of progression to hypertension and mortality caused by cardiovascular disease. We investigated the association between blood lead levels below the threshold for the harmful effects of lead and the prevalence of prehypertension in Korean adults.

The Perceived Socioeconomic Status Is an Important Factor of Health Recovery for Victims of Occupational Accidents in Korea.

We aimed to examine whether there is a correlation between the health recovery of industrial accident victims and their perceived socioeconomic status. Data were obtained from the first Panel Study of Worker's Compensation Insurance, which included 2,000 participants. We performed multivariate regression analysis and determined the odds ratios for participants with a subjectively lower socioeconomic status and for those with a subjectively lower middle socioeconomic status using 95% confidence intervals.

Workplace Violence Experienced by Substitute (Daeri) Drivers and Its Relationship to Depression in Korea.

Workplace violence is related to various health effects including mental illness such as anxiety or depression. In this study, the relationship between the experience of workplace violence and depression in substitute drivers in Korea, namely, daeri drivers, was investigated. To assess workplace violence, questions regarding types and frequency of the experience of violence over the past year were asked to the daeri drivers.

Factors related to the physician and the employer influencing successful return to work in Korea: results from the first panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI).

Objectives: This study aims to investigate associated factors including the physician and the employer of successful return to work (RTW) in occupationally injured workers.

Methods: This study is based on the first panel study of workers' compensation insurance (PSWCI), published in June 2014. The PSWCI is a sample survey of occupationally injured workers who completed medical care in 2012 (89,921 people).

Concealing Emotions at Work Is Associated with Allergic Rhinitis in Korea.

Concealing emotions at work can cause considerable psychological stress. While there is extensive research on the adverse health effects of concealing emotions and the association between allergic diseases and stress, research has not yet investigated whether concealing emotions at work is associated with allergic rhinitis. Allergic rhinitis is a common disease in many industrialized countries, and its prevalence is increasing.

Relationship between symptoms of dry eye syndrome and occupational characteristics: the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2010-2012.

Background: Dry Eye Syndrome (DES) is a broad spectrum of uncomfortable ocular conditions that are caused by reduced production of tears or an increased tear evaporation rate. This study evaluated the relationship between symptoms of DES and occupational characteristics to identify the occupation-dependent differences in the prevalence of symptoms of DES using the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey V (2010-2012) data.

Methods: A total of 6023 participants were included (3203 men and 2820 women).

The association between sleep duration and dry eye syndrome among Korean adults.

Objective: The aim of the present study was to investigate the association between sleep duration and dry eye syndrome (DES) symptoms.

Methods: We investigated 15,878 subjects (male = 6684; female = 9194) aged 20 years and older who underwent physical examinations and completed a self-report questionnaire and other anthropometric variables from the fifth Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) 2010-2012. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) for DES according to sleep duration were calculated using multiple logistic regression models.

The Association Between Blood Mercury Levels and Risk for Overweight in a General Adult Population: Results from the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

The primary objective of this study was to estimate the association between blood mercury levels and overweight in Korean adults. We analyzed cross-sectional data from 9228 participants (4283 men and 4945 women) who completed the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), 2007-2013. The population was divided into two groups according to the body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference (WC).

Case report of renal cell carcinoma in automobile manufacturing factory worker due to trichloroethylene exposure in Korea.

Background: The aim of this paper was report first case of renal cell carcinoma developed in a worker who worked in an automobile manufacture line which handles trichloroethylene in Korea.

Case Presentation: To clarify the relationship between the onset of renal cell carcinoma in 52-years old male worker and the exposure to trichloroethylene, document studies and work environment measurement were done. Past work environment exposure data were reviewed and medical history and surgery records of the worker were also reviewed.