Association between perceived financial hardship and sleep duration among Korean adolescents.

Household financial hardship primarily affects the mental and physical health of children, with adolescence being a particularly vulnerable period for emotional and sleep-related issues. This study aimed to investigate the associations between economic difficulties experienced by families during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic and adolescents' sleep patterns, specifically sleep duration and sleep satisfaction as a proxy of sleep quality. Data from the 2020 and 2021 Korea Youth Risk Behavior Surveys, comprising a final sample of 95,816 students, were analyzed.

Population-attributable Fractions of Lifestyle Factors for Prediabetes in Korea: A Regression-based Analysis of National Survey Data.

Objectives: Although lifestyle modification programs are widely implemented for diabetes prevention, the contributions of individual lifestyle factors remain unclear. This study investigated lifestyle risk factors for prediabetes and employed a regression-based approach for estimating their population-attributable fractions (PAFs) using nationally representative data.

Methods: We analyzed data from 3,104 adults aged ≥30 years without diabetes from the 2022 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.

Association between obstructive sleep apnea and quality of life in Korean middle-aged people: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), a serious sleep disorder, can lead to comorbidities and decreased quality of life if untreated. Poor sleep quality from OSA affects concentration, cognitive function, and mental health, contributing to conditions such as depression and anxiety. OSA prevalence increases with age, and middle-aged adults are particularly at risk owing to age-related social and physical changes.

The association between driving under the influence of alcohol and seatbelt usage in Korea.

Objective: Despite the mandatory use of seatbelts in Korea, their prevalence remains comparatively low. This study examines whether DUIA, a leading risk factor for road traffic injuries, predicts seatbelt usage by analyzing the prevalence of seatbelt use among individuals who have experienced DUIA compared to those who have not.

Methods: This cross-sectional study utilized data from 9,227 driver's license holders aged 20 years or older from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KHANES) conducted between 2019 and 2021.

Impact of fear of falling on social engagement among older adults: A nationwide longitudinal panel study.

Backgrounds: Fear of falling (FoF) is characterized by persistent concerns about falling, and empirical investigations are needed to examine the influence of perceived FoF on the broader and more active dimensions of social functioning. This study aims to explore the association between FoF and social participation in older adults, as well as the effects of changes in status over time.

Methods: This longitudinal panel study analyzed data from eight waves (2006-2020) of the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging, comprising 8,632 participants aged 60 years and older (3,735 males and 4,897 females).

Impact of late parent-child relationship changes on parental depression: a longitudinal aging panel study.

Background: The global population of older adults is increasing, and late-life depression is becoming a significant issue. A strong relationship with one's children is a potential factor in alleviating the risk of late-life depression. This study explored the importance of parent-child relationships, including contact, meetings, and financial support, and examined their association with depressive symptoms in older parents.

Association between handgrip strength, handgrip strength asymmetry, and anxiety in Korean older adults: The Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2022.

Low handgrip strength (HGS) and HGS asymmetry are associated with age-related physical and mental disorders in older adults. This study aimed to examine the association between HGS-related factors and anxiety to evaluate whether HGS assessments can assist in identifying anxiety risk. In total, 1,750 participants from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey of 2022 were included in this study.

Associations between social isolation, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms in young adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Social isolation and withdrawal, particularly among young people, have become significant social issues, raising concerns about mental health disorders. This study explores the association between social isolation, withdrawal, and depressive symptoms in young adults, focusing on sex differences and underlying factors.

Methods: Data from 5,513 participants in the Seoul Government Survey on Socially Isolated and Withdrawn Young Adults were included in this study.

Differential association between cumulative dose of 5α-reductase inhibitors and mortality.

The association between various cumulative doses of 5-ARIs and mortality remains unclear. To examine the absolute and time-averaged cumulative doses of 5-ARIs and their association with all-cause and cause-specific mortality among patients with benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or androgenic alopecia (AGA). A nested case-control study was conducted.

Association between hikikomori (social withdrawal) and depression in Korean young adults.

Background: Major depressive disorder (MDD) is a prevalent mental illness, particularly affecting women. The World Health Organization projects that by 2030, MDD will be the leading cause of disease burden. The phenomenon of hikikomori-initially observed in Japan-is increasingly associated with depression, a key risk factor for which is social isolation.

The impact of free subway passes on the social relationships and mental health of urban older people: A segmented regression analysis.

Objective: This study aimed to examine the impact of free subway passes (FSP) on the social relationships and mental health of urban older people.

Study Design: Segmented regression analysis METHODS: We studied data from the 2019 Korea Community Health Surveys, looking at 38,205 participants aged over 45 in metropolitan areas without activity limitations. The intervention group comprised residents of Ulsan, a city without a subway system and thus not eligible for the FSP policy.

Differences in intervention for patients with acute stroke according to the manpower of neurosurgeons.

Background And Objectives: Stroke, a leading global cause of death, poses a substantial health burden. The incidence of stroke is high in an aging society. Appropriate healthcare resources are crucial for providing prompt interventions to patients with stroke.

Association between smoking behavior and oral health problems: A national cross-sectional study in Korea.

Introduction: Smoking is a risk factor that significantly affects general and oral health by altering the oral environment, increasing plague build-up, and reducing blood flow in the gums, leading to tooth decay and periodontal disease. Therefore, this study investigated the association between smoking behaviors, such as smoking duration and cessation, and oral health problems.

Methods: This study analyzed a secondary dataset of the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (2019-2021) that included 6150 men and 7574 women.

Association between type of smoking and smoking cessation plans in Korean adults: A nationwide cross-sectional study.

Introduction: Amid the changing tobacco product landscape, the effects of e-cigarettes on smoking cessation remain unclear. This study aims to examine the relationship between different types of smoking (conventional cigarettes, e-cigarettes, and dual use) and smoking cessation plans among adult smokers.

Methods: A representative national dataset analysis of KHANES data (2018-2022) was conducted on 1475 current smokers.

The relationship between family conflict resolution methods and depressive symptoms in patients with chronic diseases.

Background: Individuals with chronic diseases are more sensitive to depressive symptoms and stress compared to the general population. The complexity and unpredictability of these diseases necessitate family involvement in their management. However, long-term disease can exhaust both patients and their families, leading to conflicts and increased stress, thus exacerbating depressive symptoms.

The association between health literacy and unmet medical needs by gender.

Objectives: Understanding the factors influencing unmet medical needs (UMN) is crucial for developing effective interventions. This study aims to investigate the association between health literacy (HL) and UMN by gender.

Study Design: Quantitative survey analysis.

Effects of the expansion of integrated maternal-fetal intensive care centers on high-risk newborns in Korea.

Objective: To investigate the impact of the introduction of Integrated Maternal-Fetal Intensive Care Unit (MFICU) reimbursement rates for high-risk newborns in South Korea.

Method: The present study used data from the Population Dynamics data released annually by Statistics Korea, which contain information on all births in the country from October 1, 2015, to September 31, 2019. The MFICU reimbursement fee began on October 1, 2017, and the follow-up period was 24 months before and after the intervention.

Retrospective observational study of the association between changes in physical activity and frailty in middle-aged and older adults: evidence from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (2006-2022).

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the relationship between changes in physical activity and frailty among middle-aged and older adults in Korea, using panel data from the 2006-2022 Korean Longitudinal Study of Aging (KLoSA).

Design: Retrospective observational study.

Setting: For this longitudinal panel study, data were sourced from the KLoSA dataset.

Factors associated with post acute care utilization after mastectomy for breast cancer patients.

Background: Although the demand for care immediately after mastectomy is rising, and such medical services are referred to as post-acute care (PAC), there is limited evidence on the factors influencing PAC choices among these patients in Korea.

Methods: A total of 106,670 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and undergoing mastectomy were extracted from the Central Cancer Registry data from 2012 to 2019 using Public Cancer Library data of KCURE. PAC was defined as utilization of long-term care hospital (LTCH), hospital-based nursing care (HBNC), or HBC (hospital-based care) within 2 months post-surgery.

Personal variation in patient-centered relevance Index based on individual characteristics and medical conditions among patients with diabetes Mellitus in Korea.

ObjectivesThis study aimed to identify patients at higher risk for regional disengagement from health services using the Patient-centered Relevance Index (P-RI).MethodsThis nationwide retrospective cohort study analyzed the relationship between the P-RI and individual patient characteristics, including medical conditions and healthcare utilization patterns. The National Health Insurance Service claims database was used to characterize healthcare utilization by 3,046,914 patients with DM from 2017 to 2020.

Impact of the mental health law revision restricting hospitalization on healthcare utilization in South Korea using interrupted time series analysis.

To reduce long hospitalization durations and the high rate of compulsory psychiatric hospitalization in Korea, a revision of the Mental Health Welfare law was passed and implemented in 2017. This study quantitatively analyzed changes in hospitalization use behavior of patients with psychotic and mood disorders after revision of the Mental Health Welfare law in South Korea. The intervention time was June 2017.

The association between the type of offline social participation and digital literacy among Korean older adults: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Poor social connections are associated with poor digital literacy. Poor digital literacy could induce poor outcomes in daily life or health status, especially among older adults. This study aimed to investigate the effect of social participation based on its absolute magnitude on digital literacy and to confirm the well-known fact that social participations are good for digital literacy is applicable regardless of activity types in a sample of older Korean adults.

Associations between changes in deprivation and alcohol use disorder: a nationwide longitudinal study.

Background: Despite conflicting findings on the association between socioeconomic status and drinking, little is known about the impact of deprivation as a measure of inequality on alcohol use disorders (AUDs).

Methods: We used the Korea Welfare Panel Study, a longitudinal survey conducted from 2012 to 2022, and included 1569 Korean adult participants. Deprivation (at least one including food, housing, medical, educational, and credit deprivation) was measured by self-report and divided into four categories according to the change in deprivation experience from the previous year to the following year.