Health rights of inmates in correctional facilities in Korea as of 2016: a cross-sectional study.

This study aimed to assess the health rights of inmates in correctional facilities from the perspective of unmet needs and to explore institutional improvement plans that could yield substantial qualitative and quantitative advancements. Data on capacity and actual occupancy, external and internal medical services, the number of inmates with mental health conditions, and cell area were obtained from the Ministry of Justice. Overall, 1,057 inmates were surveyed, representing 1.

The right to health for socioeconomically disadvantaged TB patients in South Korea: An AAAQ framework analysis.

Tuberculosis, a disease of poverty, continues to disproportionately affect socioeconomically disadvantaged populations worldwide. This is particularly concerning given the recent resurgence of TB following the COVID-19 pandemic. In South Korea, despite substantial socioeconomic development, TB remains a prominent problem, ranking as the leading infectious killer in the country.

Universal health coverage saves more lives among severely ill COVID-19 patients: A difference-in-differences analysis of individual patient data in South Korea.

Background: Universal health coverage (UHC) ensures affordability of a variety of essential health services for the general population. Although UHC could mitigate the harmful effects of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on patients and their socioeconomic position, the debate on UHC's scope and ability to improve health outcomes is ongoing. This study aimed to identify the impact of UHC policy withdrawal on the health outcomes of South Korea's severely ill COVID-19 patients.

COVID-19 and Neurodevelopmental Delays in Early Childhood: A Longitudinal Analysis of Developmental Outcomes in Korean Children.

This study employed a longitudinal analysis to evaluate the association between the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic and neurodevelopment by analyzing over 1.8 million children from the Korean Developmental Screening Test for Infants and Children included in South Korea's National Health Screening Program. We compared the developmental outcomes in five age groups-9-17 months, 18-29 months, 30-41 months, 42-53 months, and 54-65 months-between the pre-pandemic (2018-2019) and pandemic (2020-2021) periods.

Association between the COVID-19 pandemic and childhood development aged 30 to 36 months in South Korea, based on the National health screening program for infants and children database.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the neurodevelopment of children. However, the precise effects of the virus and the social consequences of the pandemic on pediatric neurodevelopment are not yet fully understood. We aimed to compare the neurodevelopment of children between before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as examine the impact of socioeconomic status (SES) and regional differences on the development.

Risk factors for critical COVID-19 illness during Delta- and Omicron-predominant period in Korea; using K-COV-N cohort in the National health insurance service.

Background: This study evaluated the clinical characteristics of patients with COVID-19 in Korea, and examined the relationship between severe COVID-19 cases and underlying health conditions during the Delta (September 20, 2021 to December 4, 2021) and the Omicron (February 20, 2022 to March 31, 2022) predominant period.

Methods: This study assessed the association between critical COVID-19 illness and various risk factors, including a variety of underlying health conditions, using multiple logistic regression models based on the K-COV-N cohort, a nationwide data of confirmed COVID-19 cases linked with COVID-19 vaccination status and the National Health Insurance claim information.

Results: We analyzed 137,532 and 8,294,249 cases of COVID-19 infection during the Delta and the Omicron variant dominant periods, respectively.

Risk Factors for Severe and Critical Coronavirus Disease 2019 in Children.

Background: Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is generally mild in children; however, severe or critical cases may occur. In this nationwide study, we analyzed clinical manifestations in children diagnosed with severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 to identify high-risk groups for severe or critical disease and compared the clinical features between the Delta- and Omicron-dominant periods.

Methods: Data were retrieved from the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database and merged with the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency-COVID-19-NHIS cohort, which includes information on COVID-19 cases and vaccination records.

Women's Employment in Industries and Risk of Preeclampsia and Gestational Diabetes: A National Population Study of Republic of Korea.

Background: Some working conditions may pose a higher physical or psychological demand to pregnant women leading to increased risks of pregnancy complications.

Objectives: We assessed the association of woman's employment status and the industrial classification with obstetric complications.

Methods: We conducted a national population study using the National Health Information Service database of Republic of Korea.

Did the socioeconomic inequalities in avoidable and unavoidable mortality worsen during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Korea?

Objectives: This study examined changes in socioeconomic inequalities in mortality in Korea before and after the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19).

Methods: From 2017 to 2020, age-standardized mortality rates were calculated for all-cause deaths, avoidable deaths (preventable deaths, treatable deaths), and unavoidable deaths using National Health Insurance claims data and Statistics Korea's cause of death data. In addition, the slope index of inequality (SII) and the relative index of inequality (RII) by six income levels (Medical Aid beneficiary group and quintile of health insurance premiums) were computed to analyze the magnitude and change of mortality inequalities.

Unequal burdens of COVID-19 infection: a nationwide cohort study of COVID-19-related health inequalities in Korea.

Objectives: While the Korean government's response to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is considered effective given the relatively low mortality rate, issues of inequality have been insufficiently addressed. This study explored COVID-19-related health inequalities in Korea.

Methods: Age standardization for various health inequality indices was derived using data from the Korean National Health Insurance Service, the Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency, and the Microdata Integrated Service of Statistics Korea.

Trend of Women's Health Research in Korea, 2012-2020: Topic and Text Network Analysis.

Background: With the epidemiological transition, sociodemographic changes and differential lifetime experiences of women, women's health research improves knowledge of diverse health issues and the impact of policies. To explore the initiatives of women's health research in Korea, the present study examined the trends and topics of research on women's health funded by the government.

Methods: We searched all research projects on women's health funded by the government between 2012 and 2020 in Korea using the National Science & Technology Information Service database.

Risk of adverse pregnancy outcomes by maternal occupational status: A national population-based study in South Korea.

Objective: This study examined the association between maternal occupational status and adverse pregnancy outcomes in the general South Korean population.

Methods: We analyzed 1 825 845 employed and non-employed women with a diagnostic code for pregnancy in the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) database (2010-2019) of South Korea. Based on their employment status and type of occupation, we calculated risk ratios for three adverse outcomes: early abortive outcomes (miscarriage, ectopic pregnancy, and molar pregnancy), stillbirth, and no live birth (diagnosis of pregnancy with no record of live birth thereafter, which include early abortive outcomes and stillbirth) with adjusting for covariates.

Age-specific influences of refractive error and illuminance on pupil diameter.

To assess the most influential factor for pupil diameter changes among age, illuminance, and refractive state and reestablish the optimal procedures for clinical applications based on refractive state and illuminance for different age groups. The study was an observational study (repeated measure study). Participants included 219 Korean adults aged 20 to 69 years.

Contracting Out National Immunization Program Does Not Improve Vaccination Rate Nor Socioeconomic Inequality: A Case Study of Seasonal Influenza Vaccination in South Korea.

The objective of the present study was to investigate if the policy for contracting out the Korean influenza National Immunization Program (NIP) for individuals aged ≥ 65 years affects a reduction in vaccination inequality based on gender and socioeconomic position (SEP). In South Korea, initially only public health centers provided influenza vaccination for free; however, starting from the fall of 2015, the program was expanded to include private medical institutions. The policy was expected to improve overall vaccination rate and reduce its inequality, through improving access to vaccination.

Variability in daily or weekly working hours and self-reported mental health problems in Korea, Korean working condition survey, 2017.

Background: Working hour regulation in Korea is being revised to allow increasing variability in number of working hours. We sought to investigate the association between variability in the number of daily or weekly working hours with or without long working hours (> 52 h/w) and mental health among South Korean workers.

Methods: We used data from 28,345 full-time, non-shift employed workers working more than 30 h per week participating in the Korean Working Condition Survey in 2017.

Mainstreaming of Health Equity in Infectious Disease Control Policy During the COVID-19 Pandemic Era.

The Korean government's strategy to combat coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has focused on non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social distancing and wearing masks, along with testing, tracing, and treatment; overall, its performance has been relatively good compared to that of many other countries heavily affected by COVID-19. However, little attention has been paid to health equity in measures to control the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aimed to examine the unequal impacts of COVID-19 across socioeconomic groups and to suggest potential solutions to tackle these inequalities.

Recalibration and validation of the Charlson Comorbidity Index in an Asian population: the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort study.

Weights assigned to comorbidities in predicting mortality may vary based on the type of index disease and advances in the management of comorbidities. We aimed to develop a modified version of the Charlson Comorbidity Index (CCI) using an Asian nationwide database (mCCI-A), enabling the precise prediction of mortality rates in this population. The main data source used in this study was the National Health Insurance Service-National Sample Cohort (NHIS-NSC) obtained from the National Health Insurance database, which includes health insurance claims filed between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2013, in Korea.

Estimation of the number of working population at high-risk of COVID-19 infection in Korea.

Objectives: We aimed to identify occupational groups at high-risk of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection in Korea, to estimate the number of such workers, and to examine the prevalence of protective resources by employment status.

Methods: Based on the sixth Standard Occupational Classification codes, 2015 census data were linked with data from the fifth Korean Working Conditions Survey, which measured how frequently workers directly come into contact with people other than fellow employees in the workplace.

Results: A total of 30 occupational groups, including 7 occupations from the healthcare and welfare sectors and 23 from other sectors, were classified as high-risk occupational groups involving frequent contact with people other than fellow employees in the workplace (more than half of the working hours).

Prevalence and Seriousness of Analgesic-Induced Adverse Events in Korea: A 10-Year Nationwide Surveillance.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to describe the prevalence and seriousness of analgesic-induced adverse events (AEs) and to identify factors associated with serious analgesic-related AEs in Korea.

Methods: Voluntarily reported analgesic-induced AEs to the Korea Adverse Event Reporting System from 2007 to 2016 were retrospectively reviewed. Analgesic medications were classified into nonopioids and opioids based on the Anatomical Therapeutic Chemical classification system.

Did the extended coverage policy contribute to alleviating socioeconomic inequality in untreated dental caries of both children and adolescents in South Korea?

Background: Dental sealants have been covered by the National Health Insurance Service (NHIS) since December 2009 in South Korea. This study aims to determine whether the socioeconomic inequality in untreated dental caries decreased after implementing the extended coverage policy for dental sealant.

Methods: The data were derived from the fourth (2007-2009) and sixth (2013-2015) waves of the Korean National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (KNHANES) conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC).

Semiconductor Work and Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes Associated with Male Workers: A Retrospective Cohort Study.

Objectives: A hazardous work environment in semiconductor factories is a threat to the workers' health. Semiconductor manufacturing characteristically requires young workers, and reproductive toxicity is an important issue. Studies investigating reproductive toxicity among individuals working in the semiconductor manufacturing industry have primarily focused on outcomes in women.