Causal relationship between drug target genes of LDL-cholesterol and coronary artery disease: drug target Mendelian randomization study.

Background: High LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) is a well-known risk factor for coronary artery disease (CAD). PCSK9, HMGCR, NPC1L1, ACLY, and LDLR gene have been reported as lipid lowering drug genes related to LDL-C lowering. However relevant Asian studies were rare.

The effect of heated tobacco products on metabolic syndrome: A cohort study.

Introduction: Evidence concerning the health effects of using heated tobacco products is needed. The aim of the present study is to investigate the effects of conventional cigarettes (CCs), electronic vaping cigarettes (EVCs), and heated tobacco products (HTPs) on the development of metabolic syndrome.

Methods: We conducted a cohort study in South Korea using data from the Korea Medical Institute.

Alcohol Consumption and Cancer Risk: Two Sample Mendelian Randomization.

Although numerous observational studies have reported on the association between alcohol consumption and cancer, insufficient studies have estimated the causality. Our study evaluated the causal relationship between various types of cancer according to the frequency of drinking and the amount of alcohol consumed. The research data were obtained from the publicly available MR-Base platform.

Ten-year trends of antibiotics used for patients with pneumonia at long-term care hospitals in the Republic of Korea: An analysis based on national health insurance claims data.

Aim: To determine the trends in the usage of antimicrobial drugs by patients with pneumonia with prescriptions from long-term care (LTC) hospitals in the Republic of Korea.

Method: This retrospective study was conducted from 2011 to 2022 using the National Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service claim data in Korea. We calculated antibiotic usage expressed as a daily defined dose (DDD) per 1000 patients per day (DID).

Physical Leisure Activities in Adolescents with Disabilities: Data from National Survey of Disabled Persons.

The impact of activities of daily living (ADLs) on the life satisfaction of adolescents with disabilities and the potential role of physical leisure activities as a moderator in this context have received attention. However, little is known about the influence of physical leisure activities on the relationship between ADLs and life satisfaction in adolescents with disabilities. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the moderating effect of physical leisure activities on the relationship between ADLs and life satisfaction among adolescents with disabilities.

Sleep-related problems as a mediator in the association between depression and work-family conflict in middle-aged female workers: A population-based study.

Aim: To investigate the mediating effect of sleep-related problems on the relationship between depression and work-family conflicts (WFCs) among middle-aged female workers.

Design: Secondary analysis of cross-sectional study.

Methods: Overall, 15,718 female workers aged 40-65 years from the Sixth Korean Working Conditions Survey (KWCS) were included.

Hand-to-Face Contact of Preschoolers during Indoor Activities in Childcare Facilities in the Republic of Korea.

Purpose: This study aimed to characterize hand-to-face contact (HFC) in children and analyze the factors that affect HFC behaviors of preschoolers in childcare facilities in Korea.

Methods: Thirty preschoolers aged between 13 and 84 months were enrolled with parents' voluntary participation. Videotaping (10 children/childcare center/2 h) and video reading was performed from 23 November 2018 to 7 January 2019.

Mediators of the Effect of Obesity on Stroke and Heart Disease Risk: Decomposing Direct and Indirect Effects.

Background: The prevalence of overweight and obesity are well known risk factors of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). We aimed to examine the association between body mass index (BMI) and ASCVD over a 23-year follow-up in young adults. We also qualified how much of the effects of obesity on ASCVD were mediated through blood pressure, cholesterol, and glucose.

An observational study of hand-to-face contact via videotaping of Korean older people in daily life settings.

Objectives: This study aimed to quantify hand-to-face contact (HFC) and identify the related factors that influence HFC in the daily life of Korean older people.

Methods: From November 20-December 4, 2018, 30 older people were enrolled and were each videotaped for their daily activities for two hours in total. The videotaped HFC data were classified by frequency, duration, site of contact, and as self-contact with membranes (eye, nose and mouth) or non-membranes (head, forehead, chin, cheek and ear).

Characteristics of hand-to-environment contact during indoor activities in daily life among Korean adults using a video-based observation method.

Objective: The aim of this study was to describe the characteristics of hand-to-environmental contact (HEC) and to identify the factors influencing HEC behavior in Korean adults' indoor daily life.

Methods: Thirty participants were enrolled from January 14 to February 12, 2018 after providing informed consent for being videotaped. Data were collected by recording their indoor daily lives for 2 hours, resulting in 4,732 HEC cases.

Hand-to-face contact behaviors during indoor activities in daily life among Korean adults: an observational pilot study using videotaping.

Objectives: Hand-to-face contact (HFC) is the major route for the self-inoculation of pathogens. This study aimed to describe the characteristics of HFC behaviors among Korean adults during indoor activities.

Methods: Thirty participants were enrolled in the study, and 2 hours of videotaped data were collected from each participant.

Association of the Risk of Osteoarthritis and Hypertension in the Korean Adult Population Aged 40-59 in Pre- and Postmenopausal Women: Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2012-2016 Data.

Purpose: Previous studies reported the relation of osteoarthritis (OA) and hypertension (HTN) mostly in postmenopausal women. This study aimed to identify the association between OA and HTN in pre- and postmenopausal women.

Methods: We used data of 4,627 middle-aged (40-59 years) women from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2012 to 2016.

Hand-to-Environment Contact During Indoor Activities in Senior Welfare Centers Among Korean Older Adults: A Pilot Study.

(1) Background: This study aimed to describe the characteristics of hand-to-environment contact (HEC) and identify the influencing factors of HEC behavior during the indoor daily life of Korean older adults in senior welfare centers. (2) Methods: A cross-sectional observational study was used with 30 participants over 65 years of age attending programs in senior welfare centers. Video recordings of the 30 participants were collected for two hours a day for participants selected from 20 November to 4 December 2018.

Association between Relative Handgrip Strength and Osteoporosis in Older Women: The Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2014-2018.

Background: While handgrip strength is associated with osteoporosis (OS) in the older population and muscle weakness is related to a reduction in bone mineral density, no study has yet assessed the association between relative hand grip strength (RHGS) and OS in the older Korean population. This study assessed the associations between RHGS and OS in Korean older women aged over 60 years.

Methods: We used data of 4,179 older women from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) from 2014 to 2018.

Prospective diary survey of preschool children's social contact patterns: A pilot study.

Purpose: This pilot study aimed to describe children's social contact patterns and to analyze factors related to their social contacts.

Methods: The participants were 30 children aged ≥13 months to <7 years, whose teachers at childcare centers and parents at home were asked to maintain diaries of their social contacts prospectively for 24 hours. Data were collected from November 30, 2018, to January 7, 2019.

National hospital quality measures for surgical site infections in South Korea: a survey among 20 expert physicians.

Background: Surgical site infection (SSI) is recognized as an important quality indicator for patient safety. In Korea, the use of prophylactic antibiotics for surgery is conducted as a national quality measures related to SSI prevention. The objective of the present study was to investigate physicians' perceptions of hospital quality measures for SSI as well as identify obstacles that might hinder its implementation in South Korea.

Development of a Social Contact Survey Instrument Relevant to the Spread of Infectious Disease and Its Application in a Pilot Study Among Korean Adults.

Objectives: This study aimed to develop a valid social contact survey instrument and to verify its feasibility for use among Korean adults.

Methods: The Delphi technique was used to develop an instrument to assess social contacts, which was then applied in a cross-sectional pilot study. A panel of 15 medical professionals reviewed the feasibility and validity of each item.

Analysis of Association of Occupational Physical Activity, Leisure-Time Physical Activity, and Sedentary Lifestyle with Hypertension according to the Adherence with Aerobic Activity in Women Using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2016-2017 Data.

Purpose: We investigated the association between occupational physical activity, leisure-time physical activity, and sedentary lifestyle with hypertension by adherence with aerobic exercise in middle-aged and elderly women.

Methods: A cross-sectional analysis was performed using Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES), a nationally representative data between 2016 and 2017. A total of 4,241 women aged 40 years or older were included.

Effect of Aerobic Physical Activity on Health-Related Quality of Life in Middle Aged Women with Osteoarthritis: Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2016-2017).

: There have been few studies reporting the association between health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and osteoarthritis (OA) in female subjects performing aerobic exercise or not. The aim of this study is to compare HRQoL between OA patients and non-OA subjects in middle aged Korean women (40-59 y) with/without aerobic physical activity, and also to identify an association between EQ-5D instrument based HRQoL and OA controlling for aerobic exercise. : This study used the cross-sectional data, the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNANES) from 2016 to 2017.

Trajectory of Smoking and Incidence of Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease among Korean Young Adult Men.

: Smoking among young adults is associated with atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD) in middle age. Our aim was to analyze the trajectory of smoking in young adults and analyze the effects of the trajectory group on incident ASCVD. This study was conducted among 60,709 young adult men aged 20-29 years who received health screening every two years from 1992-2004.

Cancer site differences in the health-related quality of life of Korean cancer survivors: Results from a Population-based Survey.

Objectives: We investigated cancer site differences in the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of cancer survivors.

Design And Sample: A secondary data analysis was conducted using the sixth Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2013-2015). Participants were 15,461 adults (664 cancer survivors) with available EuroQol-5 Dimensions (EQ5D) information.

Exercise and cancer mortality in Korean men and women: a prospective cohort study.

Background: Little is known about longitudinal associations of exercise with different types of cancer, particularly in Asian populations. The purpose of this research was to estimate the association between the duration of exercise and all-cause and cancer-specific mortality.

Method: Data were obtained from the Korean Metabolic Syndrome Mortality Study (KMSMS), a prospective cohort study of 303,428 Korean adults aged 20 years or older at baseline between 1994 and 2004 after exclusion of individuals with missing variables on smoking and exercise.

Perception and attitude of Korean physicians towards generic drugs.

Background: In 2012, a new pharmaceutical policy was introduced in Korea. According to the new policy, off-patent brand-name drugs (original drugs) and generic drugs must be priced the same.

Methods: This study aims to investigate the perception and attitude of Korean physicians towards generic drugs before and after the policy reform.

Association of resting heart rate and hypertension stages on all-cause and cardiovascular mortality among elderly Koreans: the Kangwha Cohort Study.

Background: Elevated resting heart rate and hypertension independently increase the risk of mortality. However, their combined effect on mortality in stages of hypertension according to updated clinical guidelines among elderly population is unclear.

Methods: We followed a cohort of 6100 residents (2600 males and 3500 females) of Kangwha County, Korea, ranging from 55 to 99 year-olds as of March 1985, for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality for 20.