Gallstones are Associated with Intima-Media Thickness of Common Carotid Arteries in Men / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of gallstone disease is increasing in Korea. Gallstone disease and atherosclerosis share common risk factors. Ultrasonographic carotid intima-media thickness is an independent predictor of atherosclerosis. We measured the carotid intima-media thickness among men who had gallstones to establish the association between atherosclerosis and gallstones. METHODS: A total of 330 men who visited the health promotion center of the IS Hallym Hospital from January 2011 to July 2012 were recruited. Both abdomen and carotid ultrasonographies were performed. Demographic, anthropometric, and biochemical data were collected. RESULTS: The prevalence of gallstones was 6.6%. The carotid intima-media thickness, age, and body mass index were higher in subjects with gallstones (P < 0.05 for all). After Pearson correlation analysis, gallstone, age, body mass index, and fasting blood sugar were significantly associated with carotid intima-media thickness. A statistically positive association between gallstone and carotid intima-media thickness was demonstrated in a multivariate analysis adjusted for age, body mass index, and fasting blood sugar. CONCLUSION: Carotid intima-media thickness is higher in male subjects with gallstones, indicating that they are at greater risk for atherosclerosis.

The Amount of Physical Activity According to the Level of High Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol in Korean Adults

BACKGROUND: A low level of high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C) is well known as an important cardiovascular risk factor which is closely associated with physical activity levels. However, there is a very few studies conducted on relationship between physical activity and HDL-C status among Korean adults. METHODS: We selected total 22,294 people aged 19 to 69 years old who had not taken lipid lowering agents from the 2005 Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data. The population was classified into three groups using the criteria for HDL-C of Adult Treatment Panel III. The relationship between the physical activity and HDL-C was investigated and the amount of physical activity levels of the three HDL-C groups were obtained with analysis of covariance with adjustments for various factors influencing the physical activity levels. RESULTS: After adjusted for various factors influencing HDL-C, physical activity is significantly associated with HDL-C. As physical activity is increased, HDL-C is much higher (P<0.001).The physical activity levels were significantly different among the three HDL-C groups. The amount of physical activity in low HDL-C group was significantly low compared to high HDL-C group (1653.08+/-65.31 MET-min/wk vs. 1916.70+/-102.86 MET-min/wk, P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: We confirmed that the amount of physical activity level in low HDL-C group was significantly lower compared with that of high HDL-C group in Korean adults.

Job Characteristics and Occupational Stress on Health Behavior in Korean Workers / 가정의학회지

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study is to evaluate the influence of job characteristics and occupational stress on health-related behavior. METHODS: Eight thousand five hundred twenty two workers (21-65 years of age) who recruited from a nationwide sample in Korea completed a self-administered questionnaire regarding socio-demographic factors, job characteristics, health-related behaviors such as alcohol consumption, current smoking status & exercise, and occupational stress assessed by Korean Occupational Stress Scale. Multivariate analyses were conducted to analyze the association of occupational stress and job characteristics with health behavior according to gender separately. RESULTS: In male, the problem drinking was positively associated with older age, lower educational level, some industries such as 'transport,' 'wholesale and retail trade' industries, difficult physical environment, insufficient job control, inadequate social support, job insecurity, and organizational injustice. Current smoking was positively associated with younger age, lower educational level, single marital status, lower incomes, 'transport' industry and high job demand. The rate of regular exercise was negatively associated with lower incomes, shift works, and the 'electricity, gas and water supply' industies, high job demand, insufficient job control, inadequate social support, job insecurity, and lack of reward. 'Financial institutions and insurance' industry. CONCLUSION: Occupational stress and certain industrial classification have impact on health related lifestyles in Korean male employees.