Estimation of the National Burden of Disease and Vulnerable Population Associated with Natural Disasters in Korea: Heavy Precipitation and Typhoon.

Background: Despite its growing significance, studies on the burden of disease associated with natural disasters from the perspective of public health were few. This study aimed at estimating the national burden of disease associated with typhoons and torrential rains in Korea.

Methods: During the period of 2002-2012, 11 typhoons and five torrential rains were selected.

Current and Projected Burden of Disease From High Ambient Temperature in Korea.

Background: The objective of the present study was to estimate the current and projected burden of disease from high ambient temperature using population-based data sources of nationwide mortality and morbidity in Korea.

Methods: Disability-adjusted life years (DALY) were estimated using noninjury-related deaths, and cerebrovascular and cardiovascular diseases from recently released nationwide health and mortality databases. Years of life lost and years lost due to disability were measured based on the point prevalence and number of deaths during the study period.

Estimating the Prevalence of Treated Epilepsy Using Administrative Health Data and Its Validity: ESSENCE Study.

Background And Purpose: Few of the epidemiologic studies of epilepsy have utilized well-validated nationwide databases. We estimated the nationwide prevalence of treated epilepsy based on a comprehensive medical payment database along with diagnostic validation.

Methods: We collected data on patients prescribed of antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) from the Health Insurance Review and Assessment service, which covers the entire population of Korea.

Maternal Blood Manganese and Early Neurodevelopment: The Mothers and Children's Environmental Health (MOCEH) Study.

Background: Manganese is an essential trace element and common component of water, soil, and air. Prenatal manganese exposure may affect fetal and infantile neurodevelopment, but reports on in utero manganese exposure and infant neurodevelopment are rare.

Objective: This study was conducted to investigate a relationship between maternal blood manganese level and neurodevelopment of infants at 6 months of age.

Clinical characteristics of patients with treated epilepsy in Korea: a nationwide epidemiologic study.

Objective: Although a number of epidemiologic studies have been conducted on the prevalence and incidence of epilepsy around the world, only a few studies have investigated the clinical characteristics of patients with epilepsy in a population-based sample. The purpose of the present study was to describe the clinical characteristics of treated patients with epilepsy in Korea via a nationwide medical records survey.

Methods: The study population was obtained through a nationwide database registered to the Health Insurance Review and Assessment service.

The validity and reliability of characterizing epilepsy based on an external review of medical records.

Objectives: Our goal is to validate diagnosing and characterizing epilepsy based on a medical record survey by external reviewers.

Methods: We reviewed medical records from 80 patients who received antiepileptic drugs in 2009 at two hospitals. The study consisted of two steps; data abstraction by certified health record administrators and then verification by the investigators.

Burden of disease of multiple sclerosis in Korea.

Objectives: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an inflammatory demyelinating disease of the central nervous system. There are few reports on the burden of disease of MS, worldwide. The authors aim to estimate burden of disease and estimate the epidemiologic indexes of MS in Korea using available epidemiologic data.

Occupations and Parkinson's disease: a multi-center case-control study in South Korea.

Objective: We performed a hospital based case-control study in South Korea (1) to clarify the role of occupational exposure, and especially manganese (Mn) exposure in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and (2) to discover the association between any occupations and PD.

Methods: We selected two groups, PD patient group (N1) and controls (N2). Three hundred sixty-seven consecutive outpatients with PD (177 men, 190 women) and 309 controls were interviewed about life style, past history, family history, education level, and occupational history etc.

Occupations and Parkinson's disease: a case-control study in South Korea.

We performed a hospital based case-control study in the southeast region of Korea to clarify the role of occupational exposure, especially manganese (Mn), in the etiology of Parkinson's disease (PD) and to discover the association between any occupation and PD. 105 outpatients with PD and 129 neurological disease controls and 101 healthy controls were interviewed. We employed occupational and industrial categories as defined by Section (the most broad category) and Division (sub-category) of the Korea Standard Industry Code and the Korea Standard Classification of Occupations.