Sex-specific differences in the association of a common aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene polymorphism and alcohol consumption with stroke risk in a Korean population: a prospective cohort study.

Background/objectives: It is well-known that alcohol consumption is associated with stroke risk as well as with aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 gene (ALDH2) polymorphisms. However, it is unclear whether ALDH2 polymorphisms are associated with stroke risk independent of alcohol consumption and whether such association is modified by sex. We evaluated sex-specific associations of a common ALDH2 polymorphism and alcohol consumption with stroke risk in a Korean population.

The association between leukocyte telomere lengths and sleep instability based on cardiopulmonary coupling analysis.

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to examine the objective association between sleep stability and leukocyte telomere lengths (LTL) using cardiopulmonary coupling (CPC) analysis, which is an electrocardiogram (ECG)-based technique to quantify physiologic sleep stability.

Methods: Three hundred eighty-one healthy subjects were recruited from a community-based cohort study from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES), and the associations between LTL and total quantities of different frequency coupling bands were examined using generalized linear model (GLM) with adjustment of significant covariates.

Results: LTL showed a significant association with elevated narrow-band low frequency coupling (e-LFCNB, a CPC marker of periodic breathing or sleep fragmentation due to pathological respiratory chemoreflex activation) by interacting with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity (p value of <0.

Identification of FAM13A gene associated with the ratio of FEV1 to FVC in Korean population by genome-wide association studies including gene-environment interactions.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex, multifactorial disease. Although smoking is a main risk factor for obstructive impairment, not all smokers develop this critical disease. We conducted a genome-wide association study to identify the association between genetic variants and pulmonary function and also examined how these variants relate to lung impairment in accordance with smoking behaviors.

Sodium Excretion and Cardiovascular Structure and Function in the Nonhypertensive Population: The Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Background: The effect of sodium intake on the cardiovascular system remains controversial. The purpose of this study is to investigate the relation between sodium intake and cardiovascular structure and function in the nonhypertensive population.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional analysis in 1,586 nonhypertensive subjects who participated in the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study (2007-2008).

Daytime sleepiness associated with poor sustained attention in middle and late adulthood.

Objective: We aimed to determine the association between psychomotor vigilance task (PVT) performance and sleep-related factors including sleep duration, daytime sleepiness, poor sleep quality, insomnia, and habitual snoring in a population-based sample.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional analysis from the ongoing prospective cohort study, the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study. We measured PVT performance and documented demographics, sleep-related factors, life style, and medical conditions in community dwelling adults (N = 2499; mean age 57.

Predicting type 2 diabetes using Sasang constitutional medicine.

Aims/introduction: Sasang constitutional medicine (SCM) has existed in traditional Korean medicine for more than 100 years. SCM consists of four different types: So-Eum (SE), So-Yang (SY), Tae-Eum (TE) and Tae-Yang (TY). It is of great importance that the Sasang constitution type (SCT) be evaluated accurately and recognized by medical communities.

Associations of Sleep Apnea, NRG1 Polymorphisms, Alcohol Consumption, and Cerebral White Matter Hyperintensities: Analysis with Genome-Wide Association Data.

Study Objective: There are few studies on gene-environment interactions with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Our study aimed to explore genetic polymorphisms associated with OSA using genome-wide association (GWA) data and evaluate the effects of relevant polymorphisms on the association between risk factors, including obesity and alcohol consumption, and OSA. We also investigated on these associations in relation to cerebral white matter hyperintensities (WMH) on magnetic resonance images.

Visceral adiposity and skeletal muscle mass are independently and synergistically associated with left ventricular structure and function: the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

Background: Obesity and low muscle mass may coexist as age-related changes in body composition. We aimed to investigate the effect of visceral adiposity and skeletal muscle mass on left ventricular (LV) structure and function in the general population.

Methods: A total of 1941 participants without known cardiovascular disease were enrolled from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study.

So-eum type as an independent risk factor for irritable bowel syndrome: a population-based study in Korea.

Objectives: It has been hypothesized that Sasang constitutional types (SCTs) have a specific hypoactive organ, which can account for vulnerability to related diseases or symptoms. This study examined the relationship between SCTs and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).

Design: Cross-sectional study in a population-based cohort study in Korea.

Prospective observation on the association of snoring with subclinical changes in carotid atherosclerosis over four years.

Objective: Although there is a growing interest in the independent effect of snoring on carotid atherosclerosis, few studies have observed the relationship between snoring and change in carotid atherosclerosis prospectively. Therefore, the present study aimed to prospectively examine the association of snoring with subclinical changes in carotid atherosclerosis during a four-year period.

Methods: Participants in an ongoing prospective cohort study (n=3129) were enrolled.

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, metabolic syndrome and subclinical cardiovascular changes in the general population.

Objective: The effect of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) on cardiovascular system remains controversial. We investigated the independent contribution of NAFLD to cardiovascular structure and function in the general population.

Methods: A total of 1886 participants without known cardiovascular disease were enrolled from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study.

Plasma glucose regulation and mortality in Korea: a pooled analysis of three community-based cohort studies.

Background: Although diabetes is a well-known risk factor for death, its impact on cancer death is not clearly understood. Furthermore, it remains controversial whether impaired fasting glucose (IFG) and/or impaired glucose tolerance (IGT) are associated with increased risk of mortality. We investigated the impact of diabetes or glucose tolerance categories on all cause and cause-specific mortality.

Who is at risk for having persistent insomnia symptoms? A longitudinal study in the general population in Korea.

Objectives: Our study had three goals: (1) to investigate the longitudinal course of insomnia symptoms over 4 years (3 time points) by analyzing the trajectory of insomnia symptoms for all participants, (2) to compare persistent insomnia symptom to nonpersistent insomnia symptom groups on mental health and quality of life (QoL), and (3) to conduct exploratory analyses on the relative contribution of multiple factors to persistence of insomnia symptoms.

Methods: Our population-based longitudinal study utilized a community-based sample from the Korean Genome and Epidemiology study (KoGES). Participants were 1247 individuals (40.

Longitudinal course of insomnia: age-related differences in subjective sleepiness and vigilance performance in a population-based sample.

Objective: The present study utilized a population-based sample investigating the following aims: (1) compare the longitudinal course of insomnia in middle-aged and older adults and (2) examine age-related differences on subjective complaint and objective performance in middle-aged and older adults based on the course of insomnia.

Methods: 1657 middle-aged adults (48.16% male, mean age=55.

Total nasal resistance among Sasang constitutional types: a population-based study in Korea.

Background: There have been many attempts to find an objective phenotype by Sasang constitutional types (SCTs) on an anatomical, physiological, and psychological basis, but there has been no research on total nasal resistance (TNR) among SCTs.

Methods: We assessed the value of the TNR in the SCTs classified by an integrated diagnostic model. Included in the study were 1,346 individuals (701 males, 645 females) who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES).

Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for cerebral white matter change in a middle-aged and older general population.

Study Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) contributes to the development of systemic hypertension, and hypertension strongly predicts the development of white matter change (WMC). Thus, it is plausible that OSA mediates WMC. The goal of the current study is to determine whether a contextual relationship exists between OSA and cerebral WMC.

The effect of anxiety on heart rate variability, depression, and sleep in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

Objectives: The current study investigates heart rate variability (HRV) responses to a psychosocial stressor in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, and the potential role of anxiety as a confounding factor in this relationship. Additionally, this study also investigates the influence of anxiety on sleep and depressive symptoms among COPD patients.

Methods: The study utilized a 2 (disease status)×2 (anxiety group) factorial design examining HRV associated with anxiety symptoms and COPD during a standardized acute social stress task.

Testing bidirectional relationships between marital quality and sleep disturbances: a 4-year follow-up study in a Korean cohort.

Objective: Both poor marital quality and sleep disturbances are risk factors for a broad range of mental and physical health morbidities. The purpose of the study was to investigate bidirectional relationships between marital quality and sleep disturbance and the moderating effects of age and gender.

Methods: Data from 1081 married individuals who participated in the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study were analyzed.

Tae-eum type as an independent risk factor for obstructive sleep apnea.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is prevalent and associated with several kinds of chronic diseases. There has been evidence that a specific type of Sasang constitution is a risk factor for metabolic and cardiovascular diseases that can be found in patients with OSA, but there are no studies that address the association between the Sasang constitution type (SCT) and OSA. The purpose of this study was to investigate the association between the SCT and OSA.

Obstructive sleep apnea as a risk factor for silent cerebral infarction.

Previous studies have suggested that obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) may be a risk factor for stroke. In this study, we assessed that OSA is an independent risk factor of silent cerebral infarction (SCI) in the general population, and in a non-obese population. This study recruited a total of 746 participants (252 men and 494 women) aged 50-79 years as part of the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES); they underwent polysomnography, brain magnetic resonance imaging and health screening examinations.

Obesity phenotype and incident hypertension: a prospective community-based cohort study.

Objective: The relationship betweens the healthy obese phenotype and the risk of cardiovascular events remains unclear. We prospectively investigated the association between the obesity phenotype and the incidence of hypertension.

Methods: We studied 2352 participants, aged 40-69 years at baseline, with normal blood pressure (BP) from the Ansan cohort and the Ansung cohort of the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study.

[Prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and related factors in a community-based health examination survey: a cross-sectional study].

Background: Many previous studies have shown that elevated homocysteine in the serum is a well known risk factor for cardiovascular disease and this is associated with other risk factors for cardiovascular disease, but any Korean data on this is limited.

Objectives: This study aimed to calculate the prevalence of hyperhomocysteinemia and to analyze the relation between elevated homocysteine and the lifestyle factors of Korean adults.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey that included 650 men and 743 women (age range, 20 to 79 years) who were residents of Gwangju City in Gyeonggi-do.

Determining optimal sleep position in patients with positional sleep-disordered breathing using response surface analysis.

A lateral position (LP) during sleep is effective in reducing sleep disorder symptoms in mild or moderate sleep apnea patients. However, the effect of head and shoulder posture in LP on reducing sleep disorders has not been reported. In this study, effective sleeping positions and a combination of sleep position determinants were evaluated with respect to their ability to reduce snoring and apnea.

Prevalence of excessive daytime sleepiness and associated factors in the adult population of Korea.

Objective: Information on the prevalence and correlates of excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) is limited for Asians. We determined the prevalence of EDS and its associated factors in the adult population of Korea.

Subjects And Methods: The subjects consisted of 4405 Koreans aged 40-69 years from the Korean Genome Epidemiology Study, which is an ongoing prospective population-based study.