Associations of four obesity indices with diabetes mellitus in Korean middle-aged and older adults using the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Background: Obesity is associated with a high risk of diabetes mellitus (DM); therefore, obesity-related indices are strongly associated with DM. This study evaluated the association of obesity indices, including body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), waist-to-hip ratio (WHR), and a body shape index (ABSI), with DM in Korean middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: Data from three population-based cohorts (Ansan and Ansung, Health Examinee, and Cardiovascular Disease Association Study, derived from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study) were analyzed.

Associations of resistance training levels with low muscle mass: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Korea.

Background: Low muscle mass is associated with adverse health outcomes such as functional decline and all-cause mortality. This study investigated the relationship between the risk of low muscle mass and the training period and/or frequency of resistance training (RT).

Methods: We included 126,339 participants (81,263 women) from nationwide cohorts in Korea.

Weight Changes and Unhealthy Weight Control Behaviors Are Associated With Dysmenorrhea in Young Women.

Background: This study aimed to evaluate the prevalence of dysmenorrhea and to investigate the effect of weight changes or unhealthy weight control behaviors on dysmenorrhea in young Korean women.

Methods: We used large-scale data of women, aged 14 to 44 years, who participated in the Korean Study of Women's Health-Related Issues. Dysmenorrhea was measured using a visual analog scale and was categorized as none, mild, moderate, and severe according to the severity.

Association of leisure-time physical activity and resistance training with risk of incident hypertension: The Ansan and Ansung study of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Hypertension is the most common preventable risk factor for the onset of cardiovascular disease and mortality. We aimed to investigate the association between incident hypertension and 4-year leisure-time physical activity (PA) levels and resistance training (RT). In this community-based Korean cohort, 5,075 participants without hypertension were included.

Relative Handgrip Strength is Inversely Associated with Hypertension in Consideration of Visceral Adipose Dysfunction: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study in Korea.

This study investigated the associations of relative handgrip strength (rHGS) and hypertension. Individual differences in visceral adipose dysfunction (VAD) were evaluated to verify whether rHGS was associated with a reduction in the risk of hypertension, even in individuals with VAD. We included 77,991 participants (50,616 women) from nationwide cohorts in Korea.

Protective Effect of Leisure-Time Physical Activity and Resistance Training on Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: A Nationwide Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common form of chronic liver disease. The present study aimed to investigate the association of NAFLD with leisure-time physical activity (PA) levels and resistance training (RT).

Methods: We used data from large nationwide cohorts in Korea.

Impact of pre-pregnancy body mass index and gestational weight gain on the risk of maternal and infant pregnancy complications in Korean women.

Background/objective: Healthy weight maintenance before and during pregnancy has a significant effect on pregnancy outcomes; however, there are no specific guidelines for gestational weight gain in pregnant Korean women. Therefore, we investigated the impact of pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI) and gestational weight gain on the risk of maternal and infant pregnancy complications in pregnant Korean women.

Methods: Study participants comprised 3454 singleton pregnant women from the Korean Pregnancy Outcome Study who had baseline examination and pregnancy outcome data.

Use of Menstrual Sanitary Products in Women of Reproductive Age: Korea Nurses' Health Study.

Objectives: The use of menstrual hygiene products and its effect on women's health remains under studied. Patterns of menstrual hygiene product use and the rationale behind choices among Korean women aged 18-45 years were examined.

Methods: This cross-sectional study was a part of the Korea Nurses' Health Study.

The U-shaped association between achieved blood pressure and risk of cardiovascular events and mortality in elderly and younger patients.

Objective: The main objective is to assess the appropriate level of achieved SBP and DBP to prevent cardiovascular events.

Methods: We used the National Sample Cohort from the National Health Insurance Service in Korea and analyzed data of 44 462 hypertensive patients aged 20--84 years. Achieved SBP and DBP were categorized according to average achieved SBP (<120, 120-129, 130-139, 140-149, and ≥150 mmHg) and DBP (<70, 70-79, 80-89, 90-99, and ≥100 mmHg).

Impact of atrial fibrillation in patients with heart failure and reduced, mid-range or preserved ejection fraction.

Objective: To determine the prognostic value of atrial fibrillation (AF) in patients with heart failure (HF) and preserved, mid-range or reduced ejection fraction (EF).

Methods: Patients hospitalised for acute HF were enrolled in the Korean Acute Heart Failure registry, a prospective, observational, multicentre cohort study, between March 2011 and February 2014. HF types were defined as reduced EF (HFrEF, LVEF <40%), mid-range EF (HFmrEF, LVEF 40%-49%) or preserved EF (HFpEF, LVEF ≥50%).

Predicting stroke and death in patients with heart failure using CHADS-VASc score in Asia.

Background: The CHADS-VASc score is used to assess risk of mortality as well as to stratify risk of stroke in patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). This study evaluated whether CHADS-VASc score was predictive of 1 and 2 year risks of stroke and death in Asian patients with heart failure (HF).

Methods: Patients hospitalized for HF were enrolled in the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry, a prospective observational multicenter cohort study, between March 2011 and February 2014.

Risk prediction for 30-day heart failure-specific readmission or death after discharge: Data from the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry.

Background: Identifying patients with acute heart failure (HF) at high risk for readmission or death after hospital discharge will enable the optimization of treatment and management. The objective of this study was to develop a risk score for 30-day HF-specific readmission or death in Korea.

Methods: We analyzed the data from the Korean Acute Heart Failure (KorAHF) registry to develop a risk score.

The product of fasting plasma glucose and triglycerides improves risk prediction of type 2 diabetes in middle-aged Koreans.

Background: Screening for risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an important public health issue. Previous studies report that fasting plasma glucose (FPG) and triglyceride (TG)-related indices, such as lipid accumulation product (LAP) and the product of fasting glucose and triglyceride (TyG index), are associated with incident T2DM. We aimed to evaluate whether FPG or TG-related indices can improve the predictive ability of a diabetes risk model for middle-aged Koreans.

Trend of Prevalence of Atrial Fibrillation and use of Oral Anticoagulation Therapy in Patients With Atrial Fibrillation in South Korea (2002-2013).

Background: This study examined the annual prevalence of atrial fibrillation (AF) and its associated comorbidities, as well as the prevalence of warfarin therapy in South Korean patients with AF.

Methods: The National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort database was searched for subjects aged ≥30 years diagnosed with AF from 2002-2013. The prevalence of AF was analyzed by sex and age, as was the current status of warfarin therapy in AF patients according to CHADS-VASc score and comorbidities.

Risk of ischemic stroke after atrial fibrillation diagnosis: A national sample cohort.

Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a major risk factor for ischemic stroke and associated with a 5-fold higher risk of stroke. In this retrospective cohort study, the incidence of and risk factors for ischemic stroke in patients with AF were identified. All patients (≥30 years old) without previous stroke who were diagnosed with AF in 2007-2013 were selected from the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort.

Epidemiology of Heart Failure in Korea: Present and Future.

Background And Objectives: Heart failure (HF) is an important healthcare issue because of its high mortality, morbidity, and healthcare costs. The number of HF patients is increasing worldwide as a consequence of aging of the population. However, there are limited studies on the prevalence of HF in Korea.

Incidence and Risk Factors for Atrial Fibrillation in Korea: the National Health Insurance Service Database (2002-2010).

Background And Objectives: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is a common arrhythmia that is known as an important independent risk factor for stroke. However, limited information is available on AF in Korea. This study evaluated the incidence of AF, its associated co-morbidities and risk factors for AF in Korea.

Validation of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study Risk Score to Predict Incident Hypertension in a Large Nationwide Korean Cohort.

Background: This study aimed to validate the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (KoGES) risk score to predict the 4-year risk of hypertension (HT) in a large nationwide sample, and compare its discrimination and calibration with the Framingham and blood pressure (BP)-only models.

Methods and results: This study analyzed 69,918 subjects without HT at baseline from the National Sample Cohort in the National Health Insurance Service database. We compared the Framingham, KoGES, and BP-only models for discrimination using area under the receiver-operating characteristic curves (AROC), calibration using goodness-of-fit tests, and reclassification ability using the continuous net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement.

Review of the Registration in the Clinical Research Information Service.

Clinical research registration is required in many countries to improve transparency of clinical research and to ensure subject safety. Developed in February 2010, the Clinical Research Information Service (CRIS) is an online registration system for clinical studies in Korea and one of the primary registries of the World Health Organization (WHO) International Clinical Trials Registry Platform. The present analysis investigated the characteristics of studies registered in the CRIS between February 2010 and December 2014.

Gender differences in the association between socioeconomic status and hypertension incidence: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Background: Hypertension is a leading cause of cardiovascular events. We examined whether there was a gender difference in the association between SES, measured by education and income, and hypertension incidence.

Methods: Data for 2596 men and 2686 women aged 40-69 years without hypertension at baseline from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES) were analyzed.

Difference in blood pressure between early and late menopausal transition was significant in healthy Korean women.

Background: Although the prevalence of hypertension is higher in postmenopausal women than in premenopausal women, little is known about changes in blood pressure (BP) during the menopausal transition. We evaluated BP according to the menopausal transition and associated factors in healthy Korean women.

Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 2037 women aged 44 to 56 years who presented at a health-screening center in Seoul, Korea, from November 2012 to March 2013.

Hypertension is an independent risk factor for type 2 diabetes: the Korean genome and epidemiology study.

Hypertension and diabetes share common risk factors and frequently co-occur. Although high blood pressure (BP) was reported as a significant predictor of type 2 diabetes, little is known about this association in Korea. This study investigated the relationship of prehypertension and hypertension with type 2 diabetes in 7150 middle-aged Koreans, as well as the effect of BP control on diabetes development over 8 years.

The Role of Genetic Risk Score in Predicting the Risk of Hypertension in the Korean population: Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Hypertension is regarded as a multifactorial disease with a modest contribution of genetic factors and strongly affected by environmental factors. Recent genome-wide association studies have identified specific loci associated with high blood pressure (BP) and hypertension. This study aimed to examine the association between the genetic risk score (GRS), a linear function of multiple single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with hypertension, and high BP and prevalent hypertension at baseline examination and to evaluate the efficacy of the GRS for predicting incident hypertension with longitudinal data in Korean subjects.