Burden of Respiratory Disease in Korea: An Observational Study on Allergic Rhinitis, Asthma, COPD, and Rhinosinusitis

PURPOSE: The Asia-Pacific Burden of Respiratory Diseases (APBORD) study is a cross-sectional, observational one which has used a standard protocol to examine the disease and economic burden of allergic rhinitis (AR), asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disorder (COPD), and rhinosinusitis across the Asia-Pacific region. Here, we report on symptoms, healthcare resource use, work impairment, and associated costs in Korea. METHODS: Consecutive participants aged ≥18 years with a primary diagnosis of asthma, AR, COPD, or rhinosinusitis were enrolled. Participants and their treating physician completed a survey detailing respiratory symptoms, healthcare resource use, and work productivity and activity impairment. Costs included direct medical cost and indirect cost associated with lost work productivity. RESULTS: The study enrolled 999 patients. Patients were often diagnosed with multiple respiratory disorders (42.8%), with asthma/AR and AR/rhinosinusitis the most frequently diagnosed combinations. Cough or coughing up phlegm was the primary reason for the medical visit in patients with a primary diagnosis of asthma and COPD, whereas nasal symptoms (watery runny nose, blocked nose, and congestion) were the main reasons in those with AR and rhinosinusitis. The mean annual cost for patients with a respiratory disease was US$8,853 (SD 11,245) per patient. Lost productivity due to presenteeism was the biggest contributor to costs. CONCLUSIONS: Respiratory disease has a significant impact on disease burden in Korea. Treatment strategies for preventing lost work productivity could greatly reduce the economic burden of respiratory disease.

Elementary School Children's Nutrient Intakes by School Lunch in Jeonbuk Area

The purpose of this study was to investigate children's nutrient intakes by school lunch. Evaluation of nutrient intakes by school lunch for three days was conducted with 86 children in urban and 64 children in rural of Jeonbuk area. The results of this study were as follows. 1) With respect to amounts of provided nutrients in school lunch, CPF (carbohydrate : protein : fat) energy ratio was 48.6 : 19.7 : 31.6 in urban and was 46.7 : 20.5 : 32.7 in rural. Compared to 1/3 RDA (RDA) of children for 10-12 years, folic acid and zinc were provided below 50 % of RDA. Protein, fat, phosphorus, vitamin B1, vitamin B2, niacin, vitamin C and vitamin E were provided above 125 % of RDA. There were no differences in amounts of provided nutrients-except calcium, vitamin A, vitamin B6, folic acid and zinc-between urban and rural. 2) With respect to amounts of nutrient intakes, CPF energy ratio was 51.1 : 17.4 : 31.5 in urban and 47.5 : 19.7 : 32.7 in rural. Compared to RDA, folic and zinc were below 50 % of RDA. Iron and vitamin B6 were below 75 % of RDA. Protein, fat, phosphorus and vitamin E were above 125 % of RDA. There were significant differences in nutrient intakes between urban and rural. The children in rural showed higher levels of nutrient intakes-energy, carbohydrate, protein, fat, calcium, phosphorus, iron, zinc, vitamins and folic acid-compared to those of children in urban. These results suggest that programs are needed for providing adequate nutrient intakes for children in school lunch and for improving nutrient intakes of children in urban.